Paleontological Terminology

noun the action of excavating something, especially an archaeological site

• The archaeologists conducted an excavation at the ancient site.
• They dug up some cool stuff during the excavation.
• The excavation was a real dig fest!
• The excavation of his past revealed some buried secrets.

noun the parts left over after other parts have been removed, used, or destroyed

verb to continue to exist, be left after other parts have been removed, used, or destroyed

• The remains of the ancient civilization were carefully preserved in the museum.
• There's not much left of the cake, just a few crumbs and remains.
• I can't believe he left the remains of his sandwich on the table.
• Even after all these years, the remains of their friendship still lingered in her heart.

noun the condition of having teeth that are different in shape and size

• Heterodonty is a dental condition where an animal has different types of teeth for different functions.
• Did you know that sharks have heterodonty, with sharp teeth in the front for tearing and flat teeth in the back for grinding?
• My dentist said I have heterodonty because my front teeth are sharp like fangs!
• In the business world, having heterodonty can be an advantage as it allows one to adapt to different tasks and roles effectively.

noun a type of arthropod characterized by the presence of chelicerae, such as spiders, scorpions, and horseshoe crabs

• The chelicerate is a subphylum of arthropods that includes spiders, scorpions, and horseshoe crabs.
• I saw a cool chelicerate at the zoo today, it looked like a giant spider!
• Dude, did you see that chelicerate? It was so creepy!
• Her sharp wit was like the chelicerate of the conversation, always ready to strike with a clever retort.

noun a single type specimen designated as the name-bearing type of a species

• The holotype of this species is housed in the museum's collection for research purposes.
• They say the holotype is the most important specimen for scientists to study.
• That holotype is like the MVP of fossils, man.
• In a way, the holotype can be seen as the ambassador of its species in the scientific world.

noun the quality or state of being a quadruped, an animal with four feet or legs

• The study of quadrupedality in mammals is a fascinating area of research in biology.
• My dog's quadrupedality makes him a great running companion.
• I never realized how important quadrupedality was until I got a pet cat.
• The company's quadrupedality in the market helped them maintain a strong position against competitors.

noun an extinct marine reptile of the Mesozoic era, resembling a dolphin with a long pointed snout and four flippers

adjective related to or resembling an ichthyosaurus

• The ichthyosaurus was a marine reptile that lived during the Mesozoic era.
• Have you seen the fossil of the ichthyosaurus at the museum?
• That ichthyosaurus is one cool sea dino!
• Her graceful swimming reminded me of an ichthyosaurus gliding through the water.

noun a type of dinosaur belonging to the sauropodomorpha clade, known for their long necks and tails

adjective describing something related to or characteristic of sauropodomorph dinosaurs

• The sauropodomorph dinosaurs were known for their long necks and small heads.
• Did you know that sauropodomorph dinosaurs had really long necks?
• Those sauropodomorph dinos were all about that neck game.
• The sauropodomorphs towered over the landscape like gentle giants.

noun A person who studies dinosaurs and their fossils

• The dinosaurologist carefully studied the fossilized remains of the ancient creatures.
• My friend is a dinosaurologist and he gets to dig up dinosaur bones for a living.
• I heard that dinosaurologists are like real-life Indiana Jones, but with dinosaurs!
• Being a dinosaurologist is like being a detective, piecing together clues from millions of years ago.

noun the branch of paleontology that studies reptiles and dinosaurs

• Saurology is the scientific study of reptiles and dinosaurs.
• I find saurology fascinating because I love learning about prehistoric creatures.
• Saurology is like studying the cool, ancient monsters of the past.
• Exploring saurology is like delving into a lost world filled with fascinating creatures.

noun a type of herbivorous dinosaur that lived during the Cretaceous Period

• The hadrosaur is a type of herbivorous dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period.
• Did you know that the hadrosaur was also known as the 'duck-billed dinosaur'?
• I heard that the hadrosaur was like the hipster of the dinosaur world with its unique duck-like bill.
• The hadrosaur roamed the earth millions of years ago, leaving behind a legacy of ancient mysteries.

noun a taxonomic group of extinct spiny sharks

• The acanthodei are an extinct group of primitive jawed fish.
• I just learned about acanthodei in my biology class.
• Those acanthodei fish are pretty cool looking.
• The acanthodei were like the pioneers of jawed fish evolution.

noun Acerathere is a prehistoric mammal that lived during the Eocene epoch.

verb Not applicable

adjective Not applicable

adverb Not applicable

pronoun Not applicable

preposition Not applicable

conjunction Not applicable

interjection Not applicable

article Not applicable

• The acerathere is a prehistoric mammal known for its large size and unique horn-like structures on its head.
• Have you heard about the acerathere? It's like a mix between a rhinoceros and an elephant.
• That acerathere is one funky-looking creature, man.
• The project felt like trying to tame an acerathere - unpredictable and challenging.