multituberculate

noun

mul·​ti·​tu·​ber·​cu·​late ˌməl-tē-ˌtü-ˈbər-kyə-lət 

: any of an order (Multituberculata) of relatively small extinct mammals of the Mesozoic and early Cenozoic that typically resembled rodents, had many-cusped molars, and have no known living descendants

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

But Adalatherium’s anatomy suggests a connection with another group of mammals called multituberculates, which lived in the northern hemisphere. —Theresa Machemer, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 May 2020

Jeholbaatar belonged to a now extinct lineage of mammals called the multituberculates that endured for well over 100 million years. —Jim Daley, Scientific American, 5 Dec. 2019

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Multituberculata, ultimately from Latin multi- + New Latin tuberculatus tuberculate

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above