crossopterygian

English edit

Etymology edit

From Crossopterygia +‎ -an, Greek krossoí “tassels, fringe” + -o- + pterýgion “little wing or fin,” equivalent to pteryg- (stem of pterýx ) “wing, fin” + -ion + -an.

Adjective edit

crossopterygian (not comparable)

(zoology) Of or pertaining to the Crossopterygii, an infraclass of bony fish. [from 19th c.]
- 2000, Richard Fortey, “No Such Thing as a Fish”, in London Review of Books, volume 22, number 13:
  One consequence was that the crossopterygian fishes (distantly related to the famous ‘living fossil’ coelacanth Latimeria) were dethroned from their privileged position as ancestors.

Noun edit

crossopterygian (plural crossopterygians)

(zoology) One of the Crossopterygii.