tetrapod Hear it!

tetrapod Definition

tetra·pod (te′trə päd′)

noun

any vertebrate having four legs or limbs, including the mammals, birds, and reptiles

Etymology: tetra- + -pod

tetrapod Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • early: Important material of early Mesozoic tetrapods was deposited in the collections by N.C. Fraser, who worked in the Museum in the 1980's.
  • first: The first tetrapods ( animals with four legs ) appeared on land on the first day of December.

Modifies a noun

  • fossil: The early tetrapod fossil, Acanthostega, is on current display and illustrates the up-to-the minute research undertaken by the museum staff today.
  • skull: Its skull can be taken as the prototype of all tetrapod skulls.