metatherian
English edit
Etymology edit
Metatheria + -an
Adjective edit
metatherian (comparative more metatherian, superlative most metatherian)
- (zoology) Belonging or pertaining to the infraclass Metatheria of marsupials. [from 19th c.]
Noun edit
metatherian (plural metatherians)
- (zoology) A member of the infraclass Metatheria. [from 19th c.]
- 2022, Thomas Halliday, Otherlands, Penguin, published 2023, page 102:
- The pouched metatherians, the progenitors of marsupials, used to be common all over North America.