eutherian

adjective

eu·​the·​ri·​an yü-ˈthir-ē-ən 

: of or relating to a major division (Eutheria) of mammals comprising the placental mammals

eutherian noun

Examples of eutherian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But the rest of mammals, which come from the eutherian lineage, lost this trait early on, de Magalhaes says, and as a result our genes slowly decay under UV light. —Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 2 Jan. 2024

Some of the archaic species, such as taeniodonts, might have stemmed from Cretaceous eutherian ancestors and thus would be among the most primitive placentals on the trunk of the family tree. —Steve Brusatte, Scientific American, 1 June 2022

To do that, Harris Lewin, an evolutionary geneticist at the University of California, Davis, and colleagues compared 19 genomes of various mammals at different spots in the eutherian family tree, including several primates. —Elizabeth Pennisi, Science | AAAS, 19 June 2017

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from New Latin eu- + Greek thērion beast — more at treacle

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above