Sauropterygian meaning
Any of various extinct aquatic reptiles of the group Sauropterygia that flourished during the Mesozoic Era and included the plesiosaurs.
noun
Any of various extinct aquatic reptiles of the group Sauropterygia of the Mesozoic Era. Sauropterygians were carnivorous, had paddlelike limbs, and included the plesiosaurs. They were distantly related to the dinosaurs.
Origin of sauropterygian
From New Latin Sauropterygia superorder name Greek sauros lizard Greek pterux pterug- wing, flipper pet- in Indo-European roots