rhynchocephalian

rhyn·cho·ce·pha·lian  (rngk-s-flyn)

adj.

Of or belonging to the Rhynchocephalia, an order of mostly extinct lizardlike reptiles that includes the tuatara.

n.

A rhynchocephalian reptile.

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[From New Latin Rhynchocephalia, order name : Greek rhunkhos, beak + Greek kephal, head; see cephalic.]

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rhynchocephalian [ˌrɪŋkəʊsɪˈfælɪən]

adj

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) of, relating to, or belonging to the Rhyncocephalia, an order of lizard-like reptiles common in the Mesozoic era but today represented only by the tuatara

n

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) any reptile belonging to the order Rhyncocephalia

[from New Latin Rhynchocephalia, from Greek rhunkhos a snout + kephalē head]

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rhynchocephalian  (rngk-s-flyn)

Any of various mostly extinct lizardlike reptiles of the order Rhynchocephalia, whose only living representative is the tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus and S. guntheri). Rhynchocephalians have several primitive skeletal features, including two temporal arches on each side of the skull rather than one, and teeth attached to the edge of the jaw rather than set in sockets. Most rhynchocephalians died out by the end of the Jurassic Period.