Lagomorpha in the context of "Rabbit as food"

Rodents (from Latin rodere, 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (/roʊˈdɛnʃə/ roh-DEN-shə), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are native to all major land masses except for Antarctica, and several oceanic islands, though they have subsequently been introduced to most of these land masses by human activity.

Rodents are extremely diverse in their ecology and lifestyles and can be found in almost every terrestrial habitat, including human-made environments. Species can be arboreal, fossorial (burrowing), saltatorial/ricochetal (leaping on their hind legs), or semiaquatic. However, all rodents share several morphological features, including having only a single upper and lower pair of ever-growing incisors. Well-known rodents include mice, rats, squirrels, prairie dogs, porcupines, beavers, guinea pigs, and hamsters. Once included with rodents, rabbits, hares, and pikas, which also have incisors that grow continuously, are now considered to be in a separate order, the Lagomorpha, distinguished by an extra pair of incisors. Both Rodentia and Lagomorpha are sister groups, sharing a single common ancestor and forming the clade of Glires.

Rabbits or bunnies are small mammals in the family Leporidae (which also includes the hares), which is in the order Lagomorpha (which also includes pikas). They are familiar throughout the world as a small herbivore, a prey animal, a domesticated form of livestock, and a pet, having a widespread effect on ecologies and cultures. The most widespread rabbit genera are Oryctolagus and Sylvilagus. The former, Oryctolagus, includes the European rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus, which is the ancestor of the hundreds of breeds of domestic rabbit and has been introduced on every continent except Antarctica. The latter, Sylvilagus, includes over 13 wild rabbit species, among them the cottontails and tapetis. Wild rabbits not included in Oryctolagus and Sylvilagus include several species of limited distribution, including the pygmy rabbit, volcano rabbit, and Sumatran striped rabbit.

Rabbits are a paraphyletic grouping, and do not constitute a clade, as hares (belonging to the genus Lepus) are nested within the Leporidae clade and are not described as rabbits. Although once considered rodents, lagomorphs diverged earlier and have a number of traits rodents lack, including two extra incisors. Similarities between rabbits and rodents were once attributed to convergent evolution, but studies in molecular biology have found a common ancestor between lagomorphs and rodents and place them in the clade Glires.

Hares and jackrabbits are mammals belonging to the genus Lepus. They are herbivores and live solitarily or in pairs. They nest in slight depressions called forms, and their young are able to fend for themselves shortly after birth. The genus includes the largest lagomorphs. Most are fast runners with long, powerful hind legs, and large ears that dissipate body heat. Hare species are native to Africa, Eurasia and North America. A hare less than one year old is called a "leveret".

Members of the Lepus genus are considered true hares, distinguishing them from rabbits which make up the rest of the Leporidae family. However, there are five leporid species with "hare" in their common names which are not considered true hares: the hispid hare (Caprolagus hispidus), and four species known as red rock hares (Pronolagus). Conversely, several Lepus species are called "jackrabbits", but classed as hares rather than rabbits. The pet known as the Belgian hare is a domesticated European rabbit which has been selectively bred to resemble a hare.

Cecotropes (also caecotropes, cecotrophs, caecotrophs, cecal pellets, soft feces, or night feces) are a nutrient-filled package created in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that is expelled and eaten by many animals (such as rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, hamsters, and chinchillas) to obtain more nutrients out of their food. When food passes through the GI tract the first time, the stomach and the small intestine digest the food material, which then moves into the colon, where the food particles are sorted by size. The smaller particles of fiber are moved into the cecum where they are fermented by microbes. This creates useable nutrients which are stored and expelled in cecotropes. The nutrients from the cecotropes are absorbed in the small intestine. The nutrients gained from cecotrophy include short-chain fatty acids, vitamin B, sodium, potassium, amino acids, and protein.

Lagomorphs (a grouping including rabbits, hares, and pikas) are perhaps the most well-known for producing and eating cecotropes, but other monogastric fermenters, such as rodents, also produce cecotropes. Rodents including beavers, guinea pigs, mice, hamsters, and chinchillas are known cecotrophs. Other animals also eat cecotropes, such as the common ringtail possum and the coppery ringtail possum.

A pika (/ˈpiːkə/ PEE-kə, US also /ˈpaɪkə/ PY-kə) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal native to Asia and North America. With short limbs, a very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative the rabbit, but with short, rounded ears. The large-eared pika of the Himalayas and nearby mountains lives at elevations of more than 6,000 m (20,000 ft).

The name pika appears to be derived from the Tungusic piika, and the scientific name Ochotona is derived from the Mongolian word ogotno (оготно), which means 'pika'. It is used for any member of the Ochotonidae (/ˌɒkəˈtoʊnɪdeɪ/), a family within the order of lagomorphs, the order which also includes the Leporidae (rabbits and hares). They are the smallest animal in the lagomorph group. Only one genus, Ochotona (/ˌɒkəˈtoʊnə/ OK-ə-TOHN-ə), is extant within the family, covering 37 species, though many fossil genera are known. Another species, the Sardinian pika, belonging to the separate genus Prolagus, has become extinct within the last 2,000 years owing to human activity.

Glires (/ˈɡlaɪəriːz, -aɪərz/; from Latin glīrēs 'dormice') is a clade (sometimes ranked as a grandorder) consisting of rodents and lagomorphs (rabbits, hares, and pikas). The hypothesis that these form a monophyletic group has been long debated based on morphological evidence. Two morphological studies, published in 2001 and 2003, strongly support the monophyly of Glires. In particular, the 2003 study reported the discovery of fossil material of basal members of Glires, particularly the genera Mimotona, Gomphos, Heomys, Matutinia, Rhombomylus, and Sinomylus. Their description, in 2005, helped to bridge the gap between more typical rodents and lagomorphs. Data published in 2001, based on nuclear DNA, supported Glires as a sister of Euarchonta to form Euarchontoglires, but some genetic data from both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA have been less supportive. A study, published in 2007, investigating retrotransposon presence/absence data unambiguously supports the Glires hypothesis. Studies published in 2011 and 2015 place Scandentia as a sister clade of the Glires, invalidating Euarchonta as a clade.

Leporidae (/ləˈpɔːrɪdiː, -daɪ/) is the family of rabbits and hares (Lepus), containing over 70 species of extant mammals in all. Together with the pikas, the Leporidae constitute the mammalian order Lagomorpha. Leporidae differ from pikas in that they have short, furry tails and elongated ears and hind legs.

The common name rabbit usually applies to all genera in the family except Lepus, while members of the genus Lepus (comprising nearly half the species) are usually called hares. Like most common names, however, the distinction does not match current taxonomy completely; jackrabbits are members of Lepus, and members of the genera Pronolagus and Caprolagus are called red rock hares and hispid hares respectively.

The hispid hare (Caprolagus hispidus), also known as the Assam rabbit and bristly rabbit, is a species of rabbit native to South Asia. It is the only species in the genus Caprolagus. Named for its bristly fur coat, the hispid hare is a rabbit with dark-brown fur and a large nose. It has small ears compared to the Indian hare, a lagomorph that occurs in the same regions as the hispid hare.

Once thought to be extinct, the hispid hare was rediscovered in Assam in 1971 and has been found in isolated populations across India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Its historic range extended along the southern foothills of the Himalayas, and a related fossil in the genus Caprolagus has been found as far away as Indonesia. Today, the species' habitat is much smaller and is highly fragmented. The region it occupies is estimated to be less than 500 square kilometres (190 sq mi), extending over an area of 5,000 to 20,000 square kilometres (1,900 to 7,700 sq mi). Populations experienced a continuing decline due to loss of suitable habitat via increasing agriculture, flood control, and human development, particularly burning and collection of thatch grasses. It has been listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 1986. The rabbit is known to occur in several national parks. Breeding in captivity has been described as "very difficult". Conservation efforts focus on community education and further study.

The American pika (Ochotona princeps) is a small, herbivorous mammal of the family Ochotonidae, closely related to rabbits and hares (order Lagomorpha). It is native to the mountainous regions of western North America, typically inhabiting rocky slopes and talus fields at or above the tree line. Unlike most mammals of similar size, the American pika is diurnal, being active primarily during the day. It employs two distinct foraging strategies: directly consuming vegetation or gathering and storing plant materials in "haypiles" to sustain itself through the winter months, a behavior known as haying.

Pikas are vocal animals, using a variety of calls and songs both to warn of approaching predators and during the breeding season. Predators of the American pika include eagles, hawks, coyotes, bobcats, foxes, and weasels.

This is a list of common affixes used when scientifically naming species, particularly extinct species for whom only their scientific names are used, along with their derivations.

• a-, an-: Pronunciation: /ə/, /a/, /ən/, /an/. Origin: Ancient Greek: ἀ-, ἀν- (a, an-). Meaning: a prefix used to make words with a sense opposite to that of the root word; in this case, meaning 'without' or '-less'. This is usually used to describe organisms without a certain typical characteristic, as well as organisms in which that characteristic may not be immediately obvious.

  Examples: Anurognathus ('tailless jaw'); Apus ('footless'); Apteryx ('wingless'); Pteranodon ('wings without teeth'); Anura ('tailless'); Anophthalmus ('eyeless'); Aceros ('hornless'); Agnatha ('jawless'); Aceratherium ('hornless beast'); Arrhinoceratops ('noseless horned face'); Apterodon ('teeth without wings')

• -acanth, acantho-: Pronunciation: /eɪkænθ/, /eɪkænθoʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek: ἄκανθα (ákantha). Meaning: spine, thorn.

  Examples: Acanthodes ('spiny base'); Acanthostega ('spine roof'); coelacanth ('hollow spine'); Acrocanthosaurus ('high-spined lizard'); Acanthoderes ('spiny neck'); Acanthamoeba ('spiny amoeba'); Metriacanthosaurus ('moderately-spined lizard'); Holacanthus ('full spine'); Triacanthus ('three spine'); Acanthaster ('spine star'); Acanthocephala ('spine head'), Anisacanthus ('unequal spine'); Acanthoceras ('spine horn'): Acanthogeophilus ('spiny earth-lover'); Acanthosicyos ('spiny gourd'); Acanthophis ('spiny snake')

• aeto-: Pronunciation: /aɛto/. Origin: Ancient Greek: ἀετός (aetós). Meaning: eagle.

  Examples: Aetonyx ('eagle claw'); Aetobatus ('eagle ray'); Aetosauria ('eagle lizard'); Ichthyaetus ('fish eagle')

• afro-: Pronunciation: /ˈafro/. Origin: Latin: afro-. Meaning: African.

• -ales: Pronunciation: /ˈa.lis/. Origin: Latin: -ālis. Meaning: Used to form taxonomic names of orders for plants and fungi.

• amphi-: Pronunciation: /amfiː/, /amfɪ/. Origin: Ancient Greek: ἀμφί (amphí). Meaning: both.

  Examples: Amphibia ('two types of life'); Amphicoelias ('hollow at both ends'); Amphicyon ('ambiguous dog')

• aniso-: Pronunciation: /əˌnaɪsə(ʊ)/. Origin: Ancient Greek: ἄνισος (ánisos). Meaning: unequal.

  Examples: Anisodon ('unequal teeth'); Anisoptera ('unequal wing'); Polanisia ('many unequalities'), Anisacanthus ('unequal spine')

• -anthus, antho-: Pronunciation: /anθəs/, /anθoʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek: ἄνθος (ánthos). Meaning: flower.

  Examples: Helianthus ('sunflower'); Anthophila ('flower-loving'); Dianthus ('Zeus flower'/'godly flower'); Anthodon ('flower teeth')

• arch-, archi-, archo-, -archon, -archus: Pronunciation: /ark/, /arkoʊ/, /arkɪ/, /arkɒn/, /arkəs/. Origin: Ancient Greek: ἀρχός (arkhós), meaning: ruler; ἀρχικός (arkhikós), meaning: ruling. Used for exceptionally large or widespread animals.

  Examples: Archelon ('ruling turtle'); Architeuthis ('ruling squid'); Thalattoarchon ('sea ruler'); Archosauria ('ruling lizard'); Andrewsarchus ('ruler of Andrews')

• archaeo-: Pronunciation: /arkiːɒ/, /arkiːoʊ/ . Origin: Ancient Greek: ἀρχαῖος (arkhaîos). Meaning: ancient. Used for early versions of animals and plants.

  Examples: Archaeopteryx ('ancient wing'); Archaeoindris ('ancient Indri'); Archaeopteris ('ancient fern'); Archaeanthus ('ancient flower'); Archaeopotamus ('ancient of the river')

• -arctos, arcto-: Pronunciation: /arktoʊz/, /arktoʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek: ἄρκτος (árktos). Meaning: bear.

  Examples: Phascolarctos ('pouch bear'); Arctodus ('bear tooth'); Arctocyon ('bear dog')

• arthro-: /arθroʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek: ἄρθρον (árthron). Meaning: joint. Often used for animals with exoskeletons.

  Examples: Arthrospira ('jointed coil'); Arthropleura ('jointed rib'); Arthropoda ('jointed foot')

• aspido-, -aspis: Pronunciation: /aspɪdoʊ/, /aspɪs/. Origin: Ancient Greek: ἀσπίς (aspís). Meaning: shield. The suffix '-aspis' is used to describe armored fish.

  Examples: Cephalaspis ('head shield'); Sacabambaspis ('shield from Sacabamba'); Brindabellaspis ('shield from the Brindabella Ranges'; Aspidorhynchus ('shield snout')

• -aster: Pronunciation: /asˈtir/. Origin: Ancient Greek: ἀστήρ (astḗr). Meaning: star. Used to create genera relating to stars; most commonly applied to echinoderms such as sea stars and brittle stars.

  Examples: Acanthaster ('spine star'); Ophidiaster ('snake star'); Heliaster ('sun star'); Odontaster ('tooth star'); Asterozoa ('star animals'); Iranoaster ('star from Iran'); Asteroceras ('star horn'); Geastrum ('earth star')

• -avus: Pronunciation: /avus/. Origin: Latin: avus. Meaning: grandfather.

  Examples: Coelurosauravus ('hollow lizard grandfather'); Plateosauravus ('grandfather of Plateosaurus')

• -avis: Pronunciation: /əvɪs/. Origin: Latin: avis. Meaning: bird.

  Examples: Protoavis ('first bird'); Argentavis ('bird from Argentina'); Eoalulavis ('little-winged dawn bird')

• -bates: Pronunciation: /bætiz/. Origin: Ancient Greek: βάτης. Meaning: wanderer, one that treads.

  Examples: Hylobates ('forest wanderer'); Dendrobates ('tree wanderer')

• brachi-, brachy-: pronunciation: /brækɪ/. Origin: Ancient Greek: βραχύς, βραχίων (brakhús, brakhíōn). Meaning: short, and the short part of the arm, or upper arm, respectively. Used in its original meaning, and also to mean 'arm'.

  Examples: Brachylophosaurus ('short-crested lizard'); Brachiosaurus ('arm lizard'); Brachyceratops ('short-horned face'); Brachyura ('short tail'); Brachiopoda ('arm foot')

• bronto-: Pronunciation: /brɒntoʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek: βροντή (brontḗ). Meaning: thunder. Used for large animals.

  Examples: Brontosaurus ('thunder lizard'), Brontotherium ('thunder beast'), Brontoscorpio ('thunder scorpion'); Brontochelys ('thunder turtle')

• -canth, cantho-: see -acanth, acantho-.
• carcharo-: Pronunciation: /kərkæroʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek: κάρχαρος (kárkharos). Meaning: sharp, jagged; extended via Ancient Greek: καρχαρίας (karkharías) to mean 'shark'.

  Examples: Carcharodon ('jagged tooth'), Carcharocles ('glorious shark'), Carcharodontosaurus ('shark toothed lizard')

• -cephalus, cephalo-, -cephale, -cephalian: Pronunciation: /sɛfələs/, /sɛfəloʊ̯/, /sɛfəli:/ /sɛfeɪliːən/. Origin: Ancient Greek: κεφαλή (kephalḗ). Meaning: head.

  Examples: Sclerocephalus ('hard head'); Euoplocephalus ('well-armored head'), Pachycephalosaurus ('thick headed lizard'), Amtocephale ('head from Amtgai'); Therocephalia ('beast-headed'); Cephalocarida ('head shrimp'); Lagocephalus ('hare head'); Pachycephala ('thick head'); Acanthocephala ('spine head')

• -ceras, cerat-, -ceratus: Pronunciation: /sɛrəs/, /sɛrət/, /sɛrətəs/. Origin: Ancient Greek: κέρας (kéras). Meaning: horn. Used for many horned animals, but most notably ceratopsians.

  Examples: Stegoceras ('roof horn'); Triceratops ('three-horned face'), Orthoceras ('straight horn'); Megaloceras ('big horn'); Ceratosaurus ('horned lizard'); Microceratops ('small horned face'); rhinoceros ('nose horn'); Albertoceras ('horn from Alberta'); Aepyceros ('high horn'); Lophoceros ('crest horn'); Buceros ('ox horn'); Dinocerata ('terrible horn'); Cameroceras ('chamber horn'); Endoceras ('inner horn'); Didymoceras ('twin horn'); Diceros ('two horn'); Megaloceros ('great horn'); Asteroceras ('star horn'); Acanthoceras ('spine horn')

• cetio-, -cetus: Pronunciation: /sɛtɪoʊ/, /siːtəs/. Origin: Ancient Greek κῆτος (kētos). Meaning: sea-monster. The suffix '-cetus' is used for whales or whale ancestors, while the prefix 'cetio-' is used for whale-like or large animals.

  Examples: Peregocetus ('travelling whale'); Cetiosaurus ('whale lizard'); Ambulocetus ('walking whale'); Pakicetus ('whale from Pakistan'), Perucetus ('whale from Peru'); Pachycetus ('thick whale'); Eocetus ('dawn whale'); Orycterocetus ('burrowing whale')

• -cheirus, chiro-: Pronunciation: /kaɪrəs/, /kaɪroʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek: χείρ (kheír). Meaning: hand.

  Examples: Deinocheirus ('terrible hand'); Ornithocheirus ('bird hand'); Austrocheirus ('southern hand'); Haplocheirus ('simple hand'); Chiroptera ('hand wing'); Chiropotes ('hand drinker')

• -chelys, chelo-, -chelon: Pronunciation: /kəlɪs/, /kəlo/, /kəlon/. Origin: Ancient Greek: χέλυς, χελώνη (chelys, chelone ). Meaning: tortoise. Used for both tortoises and turtles.

  Examples: Megalochelys ('big tortoise'); Archelon ('ruling turtle'); Archelosauria ('Ruling tortoises and lizards')

• chloro-: Pronunciation: /kloroʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek: χλωρός (khlōrós). Meaning: green.

  Examples: Chlorophyta ('green plant'); Chlorophyll ('green leaf'); Chlorospingus ('green finch'); Chlorophonia ('green song')

• choer-, choero-: Pronunciation: /koɪr/, /koɪroʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek: χοίρος (koíros). Meaning: pig.

  Examples: Choeroichthys ('pig-fish'); Choerophryne ('frog pig'); Choerodon ('pig tooth'); Hydrochoerus ('water pig'); Choeropotamus ('river pig'); Choeropsis ('pig resembler')

• coel-: Pronunciation: /siːl/ or /sɛl/ . Origin: Ancient Greek: κοῖλος (koîlos). Meaning: hollow.

  Examples: coelacanth ('hollow spine'); Coelodonta ('hollow tooth'); Coelophysis ('hollow form'); Amphicoelias ('hollow at both ends')

• cyan-, cyano-: Pronunciation: /saɪæno/. Origin: Ancient Greek: κυάνεος (kuáneos). Meaning: dark blue, blue, dark blue-green.

  Examples: Cyanocitta ('blue jay'); Cyanobacteria ('blue bacteria'); Cyanocorax ('blue raven')

• cyclo-: Pronunciation: /saɪkloʊ/ (or /saɪklɒ/). Origin: Ancient Greek: κύκλος (kúklos). Meaning: circle.

  Examples: Cyclomedusa ('circle Medusa'); Cyclostomata ('circle mouth')

• cyn-, -cyon: Pronunciation: /saɪn/, /saɪɒn/. Origin: Ancient Greek: κύων (kúon). Meaning: dog. Used for dogs or dog-like creatures.

  Examples: Cynodontia ('dog tooth'); Cynognathus ('dog jaw'); Cynopterus ('dog wing'); Arctocyon ('bear dog'); Procyon ('before the dog'); Cynocephalus ('dog head'); Xenocyon ('strange dog'); Hesperocyon ('western dog')

• -dactyl, -dactylus: Pronunciation: /dæktəl/, /dæktələs/. Origin: Ancient Greek: δάκτυλος (dáktulos). Meaning: finger, toe.

  Examples: Artiodactyla ('even toe'); Pterodactylus ('wing finger'); Perissodactyla ('uneven toe'); Ctenodactylus ('comb finger'); Phyllodactylus ('leaf finger'); Hemiphyllodactylus ('half leaf finger'); Odontodactylus ('tooth finger'); Stenodactylus ('narrow finger')

• -deres, -dira: Origin: Ancient Greek: δέρη (dére). Meaning: neck, collar.

  Examples: Acanthoderes ('spiny neck'); Cryptodira ('hidden neck'); Pleurodira ('rib neck')

• -derm: Pronunciation: /dɜrm/. Origin: Ancient Greek: δέρμα (dérma). Meaning: animal hide. Used for skin.

  Examples: Placodermi ('plated skin'); Echinodermata ('hedgehog skin'); Ostracodermi ('shell skin'); Pachydermata ('thick skin')

• -delphys, -delphis, delpho-: Pronunciation: /dɜlfɪs/, /dɜlfʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek: δελφύς ( delphis). Meaning: womb. Used for therian mammals.

  Examples: Sinodelphys ('Chinese womb'); Didelphis ('two womb'); Didelphodon ('two-womb [ie opossum] tooth'); Delphinus ('with a womb'); Monodelphis ('one womb')

• dendro-, -dendron, -dendrum: Pronunciation: /dɛn.dɹoʊ/, /ˈdɛndɹən/, /dɛndɹəm/. Origin: Ancient Greek: δένδρον (déndron). Meaning: tree.

  Examples: Rhododendron ('rose tree'); Liriodendron ('lily tree'); Dendrocnide ('tree nettle'); Epidendrum ('above tree'); Lepidodendron ('scaled tree'); Dendrobates ('tree climber'); Dendrocolaptes ('tree chiseller')

• di-: Pronunciation: /daɪ/. Origin: Ancient Greek: δίς (dís). Meaning: twice. Used to indicate two of something.

  Examples: Dilophosaurus ('two crested lizard'); Diceratops ('two-horned face'); diapsid ('two arches'); Didelphis ('two womb'); Dichrostigma ('two-colored brand'); Diprotodon ('two front teeth'); Diceros ('two horn'); Dipus ('two foot')

• dino-, deino-: Pronunciation: /daɪnoʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek: δεινός (deinós). Meaning: 'terrible', 'formidable'. Used for presumably fearfully large or dangerous animals or animal parts.

  Examples: dinosaur ('terrible lizard'), Dinofelis ('terrible cat'), Dinornis ('terrible bird'); Deinonychus ('terrible claw'), Deinocheirus ('terrible hand'); Dinodocus ('terrible beam'); Deinosuchus ('terrible crocodile'), Dinohippus ('terrible horse'), Dinosorex ('terrible shrew'); Deinococcus ('terrible grannule'); Dinocerata ('terrible horn')

• diplo-: Pronunciation: /dɪploʊ/, /dɪplo/. Origin: Ancient Greek: διπλόος, διπλοῦς (diplóos, diploûs). Meaning: double.

  Examples: Diplodocus ('double beam'); Diplopoda ('double feet'); Diplomonad ('double unit'); Diplovertebron ('double vertebra')

• -don, -dont, -donto-: see -odon, -odont, -odonto-.
• draco-, -draco: Pronunciation: /dreɪkoʊ/ Origin: Latin draco. Meaning: dragon.

  Examples: Dracophyllum ('dragon leaf'); Dracocephalum ('dragon head'); Dracaena ('female dragon'), Tethydraco ('Tethys dragon'), Phosphatodraco ('phosphates dragon').

• dromaeo-, dromeo-, -dromeus: Pronunciation: /droʊmɪoʊ/, /droʊmɪəs/ Origin: Ancient Greek: δρομαῖος (dromaîos). Meaning: runner.

  Examples: Dromaeosaurus ('running lizard'); Kulindadromeus ('runner from Kulinda'); Thalassodromeus ('sea runner'); Eodromaeus ('dawn runner'); Oryctodromeus ('burrowing runner')

• elasmo-: Pronunciation: /əl:æzːmoʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek: ἐλασμός (elasmos). Meaning: plate.

  Examples: Elasmobranchii ('plated gill'); Elasmosaurus ('plated lizard'); Elasmotherium ('plated beast')

• -ensis, -ense: Meaning: living in; originating from

  Examples: Saimiri boliviensis ('from Bolivia'); Myotis chiloensis ('from Chile'); Anomalocaris canadensis ('from Canada')

• eo-: Pronunciation: /iːoʊ̯/. Origin: Ancient Greek: ἠώς (ēṓs). Meaning: dawn. Used for very early appearances of animals in the fossil record.

  Examples: Eohippus ('dawn horse'); Eomaia ('dawn Maia'); Eoraptor ('dawn thief'); Eolactoria ('dawn Lactoria'); Eotyrannus ('dawn tyrant'); Eocetus ('dawn whale')

• -erpeton: Pronunciation: /ɜrpətɒn/. Origin: Ancient Greek: ἑρπετόν (herpetón). Meaning: reptile (literally, 'creeping thing'); used for amphibians.

  Examples: Hynerpeton ('creeper from Hyner'); Greererpeton ('creeper from Greer'); Arizonerpeton ('creeper from Arizona'); Albanerpeton ('creeper of La Grive Saint Alban')

• eu-: Pronunciation: /iːu̟/. Origin: Ancient Greek: εὖ (eû). Meaning: 'good', 'well'; also extended via Neo-Latin to mean 'true'. Used in a variety of ways, often to indicate well-preserved specimens, well-developed bones, 'truer' examples of fossil forms, or simply admiration on the part of the discoverer.

  Examples: Euparkeria ('good one of Parker's'); Euhelopus ('good marsh foot'); Eustreptospondylus ('well-curved vertebrae'); Eucoelophysis ('truly hollow form'); Eubrachyura ('truly short tail'); Eumillipes ('true thousand-foot'); Euphonia ('of good song'); Eudyptes ('well diver')

• -felis: Pronunciation: /fiːlɪs/. Origin: Latin: felis, feles. Meaning: cat. Felis alone is the genus name for the group that includes the domestic cat.

  Examples: Dinofelis ('terrible cat'); Eofelis ('dawn cat'); Pardofelis ('leopard cat')

• -form, -formes: Pronunciation: /foʊrm/, /foʊrms/. Origin: Latin: forma. Meaning: shape, form. Used for large groups of animals that share similar characteristics; also used in names of bird and fish orders.

  Examples: Galliformes ('chicken form'); Anseriformes ('goose form'); Squaliformes ('shark form'); Tetraodontiformes ('four-tooth form'); Macropodiformes ('big-foot form'); Octopodiformes ('eight-foot form'); Vombatiformes ('wombat form'); Caniformia ('dog form'); Feliformia ('cat form'); Scarabaeiformia ('beetle form'); Bucerotiformes ('ox-horn form'); Elephantiformes ('elephant form'); Lemuriformes ('lemur form'); Mammaliaformes ('mammal form'); Decapodiformes ('ten-foot form'); Psittaciformes ('parrot form'); Coelacanthiformes ('hollow-spine form'); Thylacosmiliformes ('pouched knife form'); Cucujiformia ('Cucujus form'); Struthioniformes ('ostrich form')

• giga-, gigant-, giganto-: Pronunciation: /gi:gə/, /d͡ʒaɪgænt/, /d͡ʒaɪgæntoʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek: γίγας, γῐ́γᾰντος (gígas, gigantos). Meaning: giant, of a giant, respectively. Used for large species.

  Examples: Giganotosaurus ('giant southern lizard'); Gigantopithecus ('giant ape'); Gigantoraptor ('giant seizer'); Gigantopterus ('giant fin'); Gigantspinosaurus ('giant-spined lizard')

• -gnath-, gnatho-, -gnathus: Pronunciation: /neɪθ/, /neɪθoʊ/, /neɪθəs/ (or /gneɪθəs/). Origin: Ancient Greek: γνάθος (gnáthos). Meaning: jaw.

  Examples: Caenagnathasia ('recent jaw from Asia'); Gnathostoma ('jaw mouth'); Cynognathus ('dog jaw'); Compsognathus ('elegant jaw'); Gnathosaurus ('jaw lizard'); Gnathostomata ('jaw mouth'); Entognatha ('inner jaw'); Oedignathus ('swollen jaw'); Agnatha ('jawless'); Anurognathus ('tailless jaw')

• haplo-: Pronunciation: /hæplə/. Origin: Ancient Greek: ἁπλός (haplós). Meaning: simple.

  Examples: Haplorhini ('simple nose'); Haplocheirus ('simple hand')

• hemi-: Pronunciation: /hɛmi/. Origin: Ancient Greek: ἡμι- (hēmi-). Meaning: half.

  Examples: Hemicyon ('half-dog'); Hemichordata ('half-chordate'); Hemiptera ('half-wing'); Hemispingus ('half-finch'); Hemiphyllodactylus ('half-leaf finger')

• hespero-: Pronunciation: /hɛspəroʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek: ἕσπερος (hésperos). Meaning: western (originally, 'evening').

  Examples: Hesperornis ('western bird'); Hesperocyon ('western dog'); Hesperosaurus ('western lizard')

• hippus, hippo-: Pronunciation: /hɪpəs/, /hɪpoʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek: ἵππος (híppos). Meaning: horse.

  Examples: Eohippus ('dawn horse'); Hippodraco ('horse dragon'); Hippopotamus ('river horse'); Hippocampus ('sea-monster horse'); Hippophae ('horse light'); Merychippus ('ruminant horse')

• hyl-, hylo-: Pronunciation: /haɪl/, /haɪloʊ/ (or /haɪlɒ/). Origin: Ancient Greek: ὕλη ('húlē'). Meaning: wood, forest.

  Examples: Hylonomus ('forest dweller'); Hylobates ('forest walker'); Hylarana ('forest frog')

• -ia: Pronunciation: /iːə/. Origin: Ancient Greek: -ια, -εια (-ia, -eia). Meaning: an abstraction usually used as an honorific for a person or place.

  Examples: Dickinsonia ('for Dickinson'); Cooksonia ('for Cookson'); Coloradia ('for Colorado'); Edmontonia ('for Edmonton'); Thomashuxleya ('for Thomas Huxley'); Superstitionia ('for Superstition Mountains'); Bolivaria ('for Bolivar'); Macadamia ('for John Macadam'); Pikaia ('for Pika Peak'); Leanchoilia ('for Leanchoil Station'); Opabinia ('for Opabin pass')

• ichthyo-, -ichthys: Pronunciation: /ɪkθioʊs/, /ɪkθis/. Origin: Ancient Greek: ἰχθύς (ikhthús). Meaning: fish. The suffix '-ichthys' is used for fish, while the prefix 'ichthyo-', while used for fish, is also used for fish-like creatures.

  Examples: Ichthyosauria ('fish lizard'); Leedsichthys ('fish from Leeds'); Haikouichthys ('fish from Haikou'); Ichthyostega ('fish roof'); Osteichthyes ('bony fish'); Chondrichthyes ('cartilaginous fish'); Tripodichthys ('three-foot fish); Choeroichthys ('pig-fish'); Trachichthys ('rough fish'); Ichthyotitan ('fish Titan'); Ichthyaetus ('fish eagle'); Ichthyolestes ('fish robber'); Ichthyophaga ('fish eater')

• -lania, Pronunciation: /læniːə/, Origin: Ancient Greek: ἀλαίνειν (alaínein): Meaning: to wander. Used for animals that are found in most places around continents.

  Examples: Meiolania ('weak wanderer'); Megalania ('great wanderer')

• leo-: Pronunciation: /lɛʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek: λέων (léon): Meaning: lion.

  Examples: Leopardus ('spotted lion'); Leontopodium ('lion foot'); Leontopithecus ('lion ape'); Myrmeleon ('ant lion'); chameleon ('earth lion')

• lio-: Pronunciation: /liː.oː/. Origin: Ancient Greek: λειόω (leióō): Meaning: Make smooth

  Examples: Liogramma ('smooth writing'); Liopleurodon ('smooth-sided teeth')

• -lepis, lepido-: Pronunciation: /lɛpɪs/ /lɛpɪdoʊ/ (or /lɛpɪdɒ/). Origin: Ancient Greek: λεπίς (lepis). Meaning: scale.

  Examples: Mongolepis ('Mongolian scale'); Stagonolepis ('ornamented scale'); Polymerolepis ('many part scale'); Lepidosauria ('scaled lizards'); Lepidoptera ('scaled wing'); Lepidodendron ('scaled tree')

• -lestes: Pronunciation: /lɛstiːz/. Origin: Ancient Greek: λῃστής (lēistḗs). Meaning: robber.

  Examples: Carpolestes ('fruit robber'); Ornitholestes ('bird robber'); Sarcolestes ('flesh robber'); Necrolestes ('grave robber'); Ichthyolestes ('fish robber')

• long: Pronunciation: /lʊng/. Origin: simplified Chinese: 龙; traditional Chinese: 龍. Meaning: dragon. Used for dinosaur finds in China.

  Examples: Mei long ('sleeping dragon'); Bolong ('small dragon'); Zuolong ('dragon of Zuo'); Shaochilong ('shark toothed dragon')

• -lopho-, -lophus: Pronunciation: /lɒfoʊ/, /ləfəs/. Origin: Ancient Greek: λόφος (lóphos). Meaning: A bird's crest. Used for animals with crests on their heads.

  Examples: Dilophosaurus ('two-crested lizard'); Brachylophosaurus ('short-crested lizard'); Saurolophus ('lizard crest'); Teinolophos ('extended crest'); Lophoceros ('crest horn')

• lyco-: Pronunciation: /lɪkoʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek: λύκος (lýkos). Meaning: wolf.

  Examples: Lycopodium ('wolf foot'); Lycodon ('wolf tooth'); Lycoperdon ('wolf fart')

• macro-: Pronunciation: /mækroʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek: μακρός (makrós). Meaning: (correctly) long; (usually) large.

  Examples: macropod ('big foot'); Macrodontophion ('big tooth snake'); Macrogryphosaurus ('big enigmatic lizard')

• -maia, maia-: Pronunciation: /meiə/ Origin: Ancient Greek: Μαῖα (Maîa). Meaning: Originally the mother of Hermes in Greek mythology and the goddess of growth in Roman mythology, alternatively spelled Maja. Frequently used to indicate maternal roles, this word should not be construed as translating directly to 'mother' (Latin māter; Ancient Greek μήτηρ mḗtēr); aside from being a proper name, in Ancient Greek 'maîa' can translate to 'midwife' or 'foster mother' and was used as an honorific address for older women, typically translated into English as 'Good Mother'.

  Examples: Maiasaura ('Good Mother/Maia's lizard'); Eomaia ('dawn Maia'); Juramaia ('Jurassic Maia'); Maiacetus ('mother whale')

• mega-, megalo-: Pronunciation: /mɛga/, /mɛgaloʊ̯/. Origin: Ancient Greek: μέγας, μεγάλη (mégas, megálē). Meaning: big/great.

  Examples: Megarachne ('great spider'); Megalosaurus ('great lizard'); megalodon ('great tooth'); Megaloceros ('great horn')

• micro-: Pronunciation: /maɪkroʊ̯/. Origin: Ancient Greek: μικρός (mikrós). Meaning: 'small'.

  Examples: Microraptor ('small thief'); Microvenator ('small hunter'); Microceratops ('small horned face')

• mimo-, -mimus: /maɪmoʊ̯/, /maɪməs/. Origin: Latin: mimus. Meaning: actor. Used for creatures that resemble others.

  Examples: Struthiomimus; ('ostrich mimic'); Ornithomimus ('bird mimic'); Gallimimus ('chicken mimic'); Ornithomimosauria ('bird mimic lizard')

• -monas, -monad: Pronunciation: /moʊnas/, /monas/, /moʊnad/, /monad/. Origin: Ancient Greek: μονάς (monás). Meaning: unit. Used for single-celled organisms.

  Examples: Chlamydomonas ('cloak unit'); Pseudomonas ('false unit'); Metamonad ('encompassing unit')

• -morph: Pronunciation: /moʊrf/. Origin: Ancient Greek: μορφή (morphḗ). Meaning: form, shape. Used for large groups of animals which share a common genetic lineage

  Examples: Crocodylomorpha ('crocodile form'); Sauropodomorpha ('sauropod form'); Muscomorpha ('fly form'); Dimorphodon ('two shaped teeth'); Didelphimorphia ('two-womb form'); Hystricomorpha ('porcupine form'); Lagomorpha ('hare form'); Batomorphi ('ray form'); Squalomorphi ('shark form'); Dasyuromorphia ('hairy-tail form'); Scolopendromorpha ('thorn-earthworm form'); Lithobiomorpha ('stone-life form'); Geophilomorpha ('earth-loving form')

• -nax, -anax-: Pronunciation: /nax/, /ænax/. Origin: Ancient Greek: ἄναξ (ánax). Meaning: king.

  Examples: Lythronax ('gore lord'); Saurophaganax ('lizard eating lord')

• -noto-: Pronunciation: /notoʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek: νότος. Meaning: south, southern wind. Used for organisms found in the Southern Hemisphere.

  Examples: Giganotosaurus ('giant southern lizard'); Notosuchus ('southern crocodile'); Notopalaeognathae ('southern old jaws')

• -nych, nycho-, -nyx: see -onych, onycho-, -onyx.
• -odon, -odont, -odonto-, -odus: Pronunciation: /oʊdɒn/, /oʊdɒnt/, /oʊdɒntoʊ/, /oʊdəs/. Origin: Ancient Greek: ὀδούς, ὀδόντος (odoús, odontos). Meaning: tooth, of a tooth, respectively.

  Examples: Dimetrodon ('two-measures of teeth'), cynodont ('dog tooth'); Carcharodontosaurus ('shark tooth lizard'), Otodus ('ear tooth'), Arctodus ('bear tooth'); Tetraodon ('four teeth'); Octodon ('eight teeth'); Anisodon ('unequal teeth'); Monodon ('one tooth'); Hexaprotodon ('six forward teeth'); Diprotodontia ('two forward teeth'); Odontodactylus ('tooth finger'); Anthodon ('flower teeth'); Thrinaxodon ('trident teeth'); Zanclodon ('scythe teeth'); Xiphodon ('sword tooth'); Solenodon ('channel tooth')

• -oides, -odes: Pronunciation: /oiːdiːz/, /oʊːdiːz/. Origin: Ancient Greek: εἶδος (eîdos). Meaning: likeness. Used for species that resemble other species.

  Examples: Hypocnemoides ('like Hypocnemis'); Aetobarbakinoides ('like the long-legged buzzard'); Callianthemoides ('like Callianthemum'); Argyrodes ('like silver')

• onycho-, -onychus, -onyx: /ɒnikoʊ/, /ɒnikəs/ (or /ɒnaɪkoʊ/, ɒnaɪkəs/), /ɒniks/. Origin: Ancient Greek: ὄνυξ (ónux). Meaning: claw.

  Examples: Deinonychus ('terrible claw'); Euronychodon ('European claw tooth'); Nothronychus ('sloth claw'), Baryonyx ('heavy claw')

• ophi-: Pronunciation: /ɒfɪs/. Origin: Ancient Greek: ὄφις (óphis). Meaning: snake. Used for Ophidia or snake-like animals.

  Examples: Ophiacodon ('snake tooth'); Ophisaurus ('snake lizard'); Ophiopogon ('snake beard'); Ophiuroidea ('like snake-tail'); Ophidiaster ('snake star'); Ophioglossum ('snake tongue')

• -ops: Pronunciation: /ɒps/. Origin: Ancient Greek: ὄψ (óps). Meaning: face, eye.

  Examples: Triceratops ('three-horned face'); Lycaenops ('wolf face'); Moschops ('calf face'); Spinops ('spine face'); Triops ('three eyes'); Brachyceratops ('short-horned face')

• -ornis, ornith-, ornitho-: Pronunciation: /oʊ̯rnɪs/, /oʊ̯rnɪθ/, /oʊ̯rnɪθoʊ̯/. Origin: Ancient Greek: ὄρνις, ὄρνιθος (órnis, órnithos). Meaning: bird, of a bird respectively. 'ornith-' and 'ornitho-' are generally used for animals with birdlike characteristics; the suffix '-ornis' is generally applied to fossil bird species.

  Examples: Ornithischia ('bird-hipped'); Ornithocheirus ('bird hand'); Eoconfuciusornis ('dawn bird of Confucius'); Ornithorhynchus ('bird snout'); Ornithopoda ('bird foot'); Ornithoptera ('bird wing'); Ornitholestes ('bird robber')

• orth-, ortho-: Pronunciation: /oʊ̯rθ/, /oʊ̯rθoʊ̯/. Origin: Ancient Greek: ὄρθος (órthos). Meaning: straight.

  Examples: Orthocone ('straight cone'); Orthoceras ('straight horn'); Orthacanthus ('straight spine'); Orthopus ('straight foot')

• oryctero-, orycto-: Pronunciation: /ohr-ik-ter-oh/, /ohr-ik-toh/. Origin: Ancient Greek: ὀρυκτήρ (oruktḗs). Meaning: burrower.

  Examples: Oryctodromeus ('burrowing runner'); Oryctolagus ('burrowing hare'); Orycteropus ('burrowing foot'); Oryctorhynchus ('burrowing snout'); Oryctocephalus ('burrowing head'); Orycterocetus ('burrowing whale')

• pachy-: Pronunciation: /pæki/ Origin: Ancient Greek: παχύς (pakhús). Meaning: thick.

  Examples: Pachycephalosaurus ('thick-headed lizard'); Pachylemur ('thick lemur'); Pachyuromys ('thick tailed mouse'); Pachydermata ('thick skin'); Pachycetus ('thick whale'); Pachypodium ('thick foot'); Pachypanthera ('thick panther')

• para-: Pronunciation: /pærɑː/ Origin: Ancient Greek: παρά (pará). Meaning: near. Used for species that resemble previously named species.

  Examples: Paranthodon ('nearly flower tooth'); Pararhabdodon ('near fluted tooth'); Parasaurolophus ('near lizard crest'); Paraceratherium ('near hornless beast'); Parameles ('near badger')

• -pelta: Pronunciation: /pɛltə:/ Origin: Ancient Greek: πέλτη (péltē). Meaning: shield. Frequently used for ankylosaurs.

  Examples: Sauropelta ('lizard shield'); Dracopelta ('dragon shield'); Cedarpelta ('shield from the Cedar Mountains')

• -phagus, -phagan-: Pronunciation: /feɪgəs/, /feɪgən/. Origin: Ancient Greek: φάγος (phágos). Meaning: eater, eating, glutton. Used for organisms perceived as eating a particular type of thing.

  Examples: Saurophaganax ('lord of the lizard-eaters'); Ophiophagus ('snake-eater'); Myrmecophaga ('ant-eater'); Oophaga ('egg-eater'); Musophaga ('banana-eater'); Meliphaga ('honey-eater'); Polyphaga ('many-eater'); Phytophaga ('plant-eater'); Myxophaga ('mucus-eater'); Ichthyophaga ('fish eater')

• -philus, -phila, philo-: Pronunciation: /fiːləs/, /fiːlə/, /fiːloʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek: φίλος (phílos). Meaning: dear, beloved, loving. Used for organisms perceived as having a fondness for a particular thing.

  Examples: Sarcophilus ('flesh-loving'); Drosophila ('dew-loving'); Anthophila ('flower-loving'); Philodendron ('loving tree'); Geophilus ('earth-loving'); Cnemophilus ('slope lover'); Spermophilus ('seed-loving')

• -phyton, -phyta, phyto-, -phyte: Pronunciation: /faɪtən/, /faitə/, /faɪtoʊ/, /faɪt/. Origin: Ancient Greek: φυτόν (phutón). Meaning: plant.

  Examples: Spermatophyte ('seed plant'); Rhyniophyte ('plant of the Rhynie chert'); Phytophthora ('plant destroyer'); Phytolacca ('plant lac'); Chlorophyta ('green plant')

• -pithecus, pitheco-: Pronunciation: /piθəkəs/, /piθəkoʊ/, //piθəkə/. Origin: Ancient Greek: πίθηκος (píthēkos). Meaning: ape, monkey.

  Examples: Australopithecus ('southern ape'); Ardipithecus ('floor ape'); Gigantopithecus ('giant ape'); Leontopithecus ('lion monkey'); Pithecellobium ('monkey earring'); Rhinopithecus ('nose monkey')

• platy-: Pronunciation: /ˈplætɪ/. Origin: Ancient Greek πλατύς (platús). Meaning: flat. Used for creatures that are flat or have flat parts.

  Examples: Platyhelminthes ('flat worm'); Platybelodon ('flat spear-tusk'); Platycodon ('flat bell'); Platypus ('flat foot'); Uroplatus ('flat tail')

• plesio-, plesi-: Pronunciation: /pliːziːoʊ/, /pliːz/ (or pliːʒ/). Origin: Ancient Greek πλησίον (plēsíon). Meaning: near. Used for species that bear similarities to other species.

  Examples: Plesiosaurus ('near lizard'); Plesiorycteropus ('near burrowing-foot'); Plesiobaena ('near Baena'); Plesiadapis ('near Adapis')

• -pod, podo-, -pus: Pronunciation: /pɒd/, /pɒdoʊ/, /pʊs/. Origin: Ancient Greek πούς, ποδός (poús, podós). Meaning: foot, of the foot, respectively.

  Examples: Ornithopoda ('bird foot'); Brachypodosaurus ('short footed lizard'); Moropus and Bradypus ('slow foot'); Octopus ('eight foot'); Platypus ('flat foot'); Orycteropus ('burrowing foot'); Decapoda ('ten foot'); Gastropoda ('belly foot'); Hexapoda ('six foot'); Erectopus ('forward foot'); Orthopus ('straight foot'); Tylopoda ('calloused foot'); Onychopoda ('claw foot'); Cephalopoda ('head foot'); Ailuropoda ('cat foot'); Hymenopus ('membrane foot'); Uropoda ('tail foot')

• -prion: Pronunciation: /prɪɒn/. Origin: Ancient Greek πριὢν. Meaning: saw.

  Examples: Helicoprion ('spiral saw'); Ornithoprion ('bird saw'); Onychoprion ('claw saw'); Suchoprion ('crocodile saw'). Prions are a subfamily of saw-beaked petrels.

• pro-, protero-: pronunciation: /proʊ̯/, /proʊ̯tεroʊ̯/. Origin: Ancient Greek πρό, πρότερος (pró, próteros). Meaning: before. Usually used for ancestral forms.

  Examples: Proterosuchus ('early crocodile'); Procompsognathus ('early elegant jaw'); Prosaurolophus ('early lizard crest'); Proteroctopus ('early eight-foot')

• proto-: Pronunciation: /proʊtoʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek πρῶτος (prōtos). Meaning: first. Used for early appearances in the fossil record.

  Examples: Protoceratops ('first horned face'); Protognathosaurus ('first jaw lizard'); Protohadros ('first hadrosaur')

• psittaco-, -psitta: Pronunciation: /sitɑːkoʊ/, /psitə/. Origin: Ancient Greek ψιττακός (psittakós). Meaning: parrot. 'Psittaco-' is used for parrot-like creatures, while the suffix 'psitta' is used for parrots.

  Examples: Psittacosaurus ('parrot lizard'); Cyclopsitta ('Cyclops parrot'); Xenopsitta ('strange parrot'); Psittaciformes ('parrot form')

• pter-, ptero-, -pterus, pteryg-, -ptera, -pteryx. Pronunciation: /ter/, /teroʊ/, /pterəs/, /terɪg/, /pterə/, /pterɪx/. Origin: Ancient Greek πτέρυξ, πτέρυγος (pterux, ptérugos). Meaning: wing, of a wing, respectively. Used for many winged creatures, but also expanded to mean 'fin', and used for many undersea arthropods. The suffix '-ptera' is also used in orders of winged insects.

  Examples: Brachypterygius ('short finned'); Brachyptera ('short wing'); Pteranodon ('toothless wing'); Pterodactylus ('winged finger'); Eurypterus ('wide wing' or fin); Pterygotus ('winged' or finned); Coleoptera ('sheathed wing'); Camaroptera ('arched wing'); Archaeopteryx ('ancient wing'); Stenopterygius ('narrow finned'); Lepidoptera ('scaled wing'); Chiroptera ('hand wing'); Dermoptera ('skin wing'); Raphidioptera ('needle wing'); Rhomboptera ('rhombus wing'); Orthoptera ('straight wing'); Mecoptera ('long wing'); Delphinapterus ('dolphin fin'); Megaloptera ('great wing'); Megaptera ('great fin'); Neopterygii ('new fin'); Titanoptera ('Titan wing'); Sarcopterygii ('flesh fin'); Actinopterygii ('ray fin'); Neuroptera ('net wing')

• -pus: see -pod, -podo-, -pus.
• -raptor, raptor-: Pronunciation: /ræptər/. Origin: Latin raptor. Meaning: 'robber, thief'. Frequently used for dromaeosaurids or similar animals. The term 'raptor' by itself may also be used for a dromeosaurid, a Velociraptor, or originally, a bird of prey.

  Examples: Velociraptor ('speedy thief'); Utahraptor ('thief from Utah'); Raptorex ('thief king')

• -rex: Pronunciation: /rεks/. Origin: Latin rex. Meaning: king. Often used for large or impressive animals.

  Examples: Raptorex ('thief king'); Dracorex ('dragon king'); Tyrannosaurus rex ('tyrant lizard king')

• -rhina, rhino-, -rhinus: Pronunciation: /raɪnə/ /raɪnoʊ̯/, /raɪnəs/. Origin: Ancient Greek ῥίς (rhís). Meaning: nose.

  Examples: Altirhinus ('high nose'); Pachyrhinosaurus ('thick-nosed lizard'); Lycorhinus ('wolf nose'); Arrhinoceratops ('noseless horned face'); Cretoxyrhina ('Cretaceous sharp nose'); Rhinoceros ('nose horn'); Burhinus ('ox nose'); Rhinopithecus ('nose monkey'); Pachyrhinus ('thick nose')

• rhodo-: Pronunciation: /roʊdoʊ/, /rodoʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek ῥόδον (rhódon). Meaning: 'rose'. Used for red-colored or otherwise rose-like organisms.

  Examples: Rhododendron ('rose tree'); Rhodophyta ('rose plant'); Rhodomonas ('rose unit')

• rhyncho-, -rhynchus: Pronunciation: /rɪnkoʊ/, /rɪnkəs/. Origin: Ancient Greek ῥύγχος (rhúnkhos). Meaning: 'beak', 'snout'.

  Examples: Rhamphorhynchus ('beak snout'); Aspidorhynchus ('shield snout'); Ornithorhynchus ('bird snout'); Rhynchosauria ('beaked lizard'); Rhynchocephalia ('beaked head'); Oncorhynchus ('bent snout'); Scaphirhynchus ('shovel snout'); Oryctorhynchus ('burrowing snout'); Thalattorhynchus ('sea snout'); Xiphorhynchus ('sword snout'); Kinorhyncha ('moving snout')

• sarco-: Pronunciation: /sɑːrkʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek σάρξ (sárx). Meaning: flesh. Used for flesh-eating animals or animals and plants with fleshy parts

  Examples: Sarcophilus ('flesh-loving'); Sarcopterygii ('fleshy fin'); Sarcosuchus ('flesh crocodile')

• saur, sauro-, -saurus, -saura: Pronunciation: /sɔər/, /sɔəroʊ/, /sɔərəs/, /sɔəra/. Origin: Ancient Greek σαῦρος (saûros). Meaning: lizard. Used for dinosaurs and other extinct reptiles.

  Examples: Dinosaur ('terrible lizard'); Mosasaur ('lizard from the Meuse River'), Tyrannosaurus ('tyrant lizard'), Allosaurus ('other lizard'), Sauroposeidon ('lizard of Poseidon'), Maiasaura ('caring mother lizard'), Bonitasaura ('lizard from La Bonita'), Pleurosaurus ('rib lizard'); Chlamydosaurus ('cloak lizard')

• sin-, sino-: Pronunciation; /sɪn/, /saɪnoʊ̯/. Origin: Latin: Sina. Meaning: from China.

  Examples: Sinornithosaurus; ('Chinese bird-lizard'); Sinosauropteryx ('Chinese lizard wing'); Sinoceratops ('Chinese horned face'); Sinraptor ('Chinese thief'); Sinomammut ('Chinese mammoth')

• smilo-, -smilus: Pronunciation: /smaɪloʊ/, /smaɪləs/. Origin: Ancient Greek σμίλη (smílē). Meaning: a carving knife or chisel. Used for animals with sabre teeth.

  Examples: Smilodon ('knife tooth'); Smilosuchus ('knife crocodile'); Thylacosmilus ('pouched knife'); Xenosmilus ('strange knife')

• spino-, -spino-, -spinax, -spinus: Pronunciation: /spaɪnə/, /spaɪnæks/, /spaɪnəs/. Origin: Latin: spīna. Meaning: a thorn, a spine.

  Examples: Altispinax ('with high spines'); Gigantspinosaurus ('giant-spined lizard'); Iberospinus ('Iberian spine'); Spinops ('spine face'); Spinosaurus ('spine lizard')

• -spondylus: Pronunciation: /spɒndələs/. Origin: Ancient Greek σπόνδυλος (spóndulos). Meaning: vertebra.

  Examples: Streptospondylus ('curved vertebrae'); Massospondylus ('massive vertebrae'); Bothriospondylus ('excavated vertebrae')

• squali-, squalo-: Pronunciation: /skweɪlɪ/, /skweɪloʊ/ . Origin: Latin squalus. Meaning: a kind of sea fish. Used for shark-like creatures.

  Examples: Squalodon ('shark tooth'); Squaliformes ('shark form'); Squalicorax ('shark raven'); Squalomorphi ('shark shape')

• stego-, -stega: Pronunciation: /stɛgoʊ/, /stɛgə/. Origin: Ancient Greek στέγη (stégē). Meaning: roof. Used for armoured or plated animals.

  Examples: Stegosaurus ('roofed lizard'); Ichthyostega ('roofed fish'); Acanthostega ('spine roof')

• strepto-: Pronunciation: /streptoʊ/, /strepto/. Origin: Ancient Greek στρεπτός (streptós). Meaning: twisted, bent.

  Examples: Streptophyta ('twisted plant'); Streptococcus ('twisted granule'); Streptospondylus ('twisted vertebrae'); Streptomyces ('twisted fungus'); Streptocarpus ('twisted fruit')

• -stoma, -stome, -stomus: Pronunciation: /stoʊma/, /stoʊm/, /stoʊməs/. Origin: Ancient Greek στόμα (stóma). Meaning: mouth.

  Examples: Deuterostomia ('second mouth'); Gnathostoma ('jaw mouth'); Anastomus ('on mouth'); Cyclostomi ('circle mouth'); Aulostomus ('flute mouth')

• sucho-, -suchus: Pronunciation: /sjuːkoʊ/, /sjuːkəs/. Origin: Ancient Greek σούχος (soúkhos). Meaning:: Originally the Ancient Greek name for the Ancient Egyptian crocodile-headed god, Sobek. Used to denote crocodilians or crocodile-like animals.

  Examples: Deinosuchus ('terrible crocodile'); Anatosuchus ('duck crocodile'); Suchomimus ('crocodile mimic'); Sarcosuchus ('flesh crocodile'); Thalattosuchus ('sea crocodile'); Pseudosuchia ('false crocodile')

• tauro-: /taərəs/. Origin: Latin: taurus. Meaning: bull.

  Examples: Taurotragus ('male goat-bull'); Taurovenator ('bull hunter'); Carnotaurus ('meat bull')

• -teuthis: Pronunciation: /tjuːθɪs/. Origin: Ancient Greek τευθίς (teuthís). Meaning: squid. Used for squids and similar cephalopods.

  Examples: Gonioteuthis ('narrow squid'); Architeuthis ('ruling squid'); Vampyroteuthis ('vampire squid'); Cylindroteuthis ('cylindrical squid'); Opisthoteuthis ('back squid')

• thalatto-. Pronunciation: /θəlatoʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek θᾰ́λᾰττᾰ (thálatta). Meaning: sea.

  Examples: Thalattosaurus ('sea lizard'); Thalattoarchon ('sea ruler'); Thalattosuchus ('sea crocodile'); Thalattorhynchus ('sea snout')

• thero-, -therium. Pronunciation: /θɛroʊ/, /θiːrɪəm/. Origin: Ancient Greek θηρίον (theríon). Meaning: beast. Used for supposedly monstrous animals. The suffix '-therium' is often used to denote extinct mammals.

  Examples: Theropoda ('beast foot'), Deinotherium ('terrible beast'); Megatherium ('big beast'); Brontotherium ('thunder beast'); Uintatherium ('beast from the Uinta Mountains'); Anthracotherium ('coal beast'); Nototherium ('southern beast'); Arsinoitherium ('beast of Arsinoe II'); Elasmotherium ('plated beast'); Chalicotherium ('gravel beast'); Paraceratherium ('near hornless beast'); Aceratherium ('hornless beast'); Ceratotherium ('horned beast'); Boreoeutheria ('true northern beast'); Pyrotherium ('fire beast')

• thylac-: Pronunciation: /θaɪlæk/. Origin: Ancient Greek θύλακος (thúlakos). Meaning: a sack. In the sense of 'pouch', used for marsupials.

  Examples: Thylacine ('pouched one'); Thylacoleo ('pouched lion'); Thylacosmilus ('pouched knife'); Thylacocephala ('pouch head')

• tri-: Pronunciation: /traɪ/. Origin: Ancient Greek τρία (tría). Meaning: three.

  Examples: Triceratops ('three-horned face'); Triconodon ('three coned teeth'); Trilobita ('three lobes'); Triops ('three eyes'); Triacanthus ('three spine'); Trilobozoa ('three-lobed animals')

• titano-, -titan: Pronunciation: /taɪtænoʊ/, /taɪtən/. Origin: Ancient Greek Τιτάν, Τιτᾶνος (Titán, Titânos). Meaning: Titan, of the Titan, respectively. Used for large animals.

  Examples: Titanosaurus ('Titan lizard'); Giraffatitan ('giraffe Titan'); Anatotitan ('duck Titan'); Titanotherium ('Titan beast'); Titanoboa ('Titan boa'); Titanomyrma ('Titan ant'); Titanoceratops ('Titan horned face'); Titanoptera ('Titan wing'); Ichthyotitan ('fish Titan')

• tyranno-, -tyrannus: Pronunciation: /taɪrænoʊ/, /taɪrænəs/. Origin: Ancient Greek τύραννος (túrannos). Meaning: tyrant. Used for animals similar to Tyrannosaurus.

  Examples: Zhuchengtyrannus ('tyrant from Zhucheng'); Tyrannosaurus ('tyrant lizard'); Nanotyrannus ('dwarf tyrant'); Tyrannotitan ('Titanic tyrant'); Sinotyrannus ('Chinese tyrant'); Suskityrannus ('coyote tyrant'); Eotyrannus ('dawn tyrant')

• -urus, -uro-: Pronunciation: /uːrəs/, /uːroʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek: οὐρά (ourá). Meaning: tail.

  Examples: Dasyurus ('hairy tail'); Coelurosauria ('hollow tail lizards'); Uromastyx ('tail scourge'); Ophiura ('snake tail'); Anurognathus ('tailless jaw'); Brachyura ('short tail'); Anura ('tailless'); Uroplatus ('flat tail'); Urodela ('conspicuous tail'); Xiphosura ('sword tail'); Uropoda ('tail foot')

• veloci-: Pronunciation: /vəlɑsɪ/. Origin: Latin velox. Meaning: speed.

  Example: Velociraptor ('speedy thief'); Velocisaurus ('speedy lizard')

• -venator: Pronunciation: /vɛnətər/. Origin: Latin venator. Meaning: hunter.

  Examples: Afrovenator ('African hunter'); Juravenator ('hunter from the Jura Mountains'); Scorpiovenator ('scorpion hunter'); Neovenator ('new hunter'); Concavenator ('hunter from Cuenca'); Taurovenator ('bull hunter'); Ichthyovenator ('fish hunter')

• xeno-: Pronunciation: /zinoʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek ξένος (xénos). Meaning: strange, stranger. Used for organisms that exhibit unusual traits for their class.

  Examples: Xenosmilus ('strange knife'); Xenotarsosaurus ('strange ankled lizard'); Xenopsitta ('strange parrot'); Xenocyon ('strange dog'); Xenokeryx ('strange horn'); Xenostega ('strange roof'); Xenozancla ('strange animal'); Xenodermus ('strange skin'); Xenopus ('strange foot'); Xenops ('strange face'); Xenophthalmus ('strange eye')

• -zoon, -zoa: Pronunciation: /zoʊɑːn/, /zoʊə/. Origin: Ancient Greek ζῷον (zōion). Meaning: animal. Used for broad categories of animals, or in certain names of animals.

  Examples: Metazoa ('encompassing animals'); Parazoa ('near animals'); Ecdysozoa ('moulting animals'); Yunnanozoon ('animal from Yunnan'); Yuyuanozoon ('animal from Yu Yuan'); Hydrozoa ('water animals'); Spermatozoon ('seed animal'); Echinozoa ('hedgehog animals'); Asterozoa ('star animals'); Trilobozoa ('three-lobed animals'); Placozoa ('plate animals'); Amoebozoa ('amoeba animals')

Euarchontoglires (from Euarchonta 'true rulers' + Glires 'dormice'), synonymous with Supraprimates, is a clade and a superorder of placental mammals, the living members of which belong to one of the five following groups: rodents, lagomorphs, treeshrews, primates, and colugos.