Paleontology Glossary
essential terms and definitions for paleontology and dinosaur science.
Anatomy & Morphology
15 termsTerms related to dinosaur body structure, skeletal features, and physical characteristics.
Appendicular Skeleton
The bones of the limbs and their supporting girdles (pectoral and pelvic). Differences in appendicular โฆ
Axial Skeleton
The central supporting column of the body, comprising the skull, vertebral column, ribs, and sternum. โฆ
Clade
A group of organisms consisting of a common ancestor and all its descendants. Dinosauria, Theropoda, โฆ
Cranial Crest
A bony projection on the top of the skull, often used for display, species recognition, โฆ
Dermal Armor
Protective bony or keratinous elements embedded in or growing from the skin. Ankylosaurs are the โฆ
Fenestra
An opening or window in the skull. Dinosaur skulls typically have multiple fenestrae that reduce โฆ
Gastralia
Belly ribs found in theropods and some other archosaurs. These thin bony elements helped support โฆ
Nasal Horn Core
The bony base beneath a horn, composed of bone rather than keratin. In ceratopsians like โฆ
Opisthopubic Pelvis
A pelvic configuration in which the pubis points backward, characteristic of ornithischian dinosaurs and also โฆ
Osteoderms
Bony deposits forming scales, plates, or other structures in the skin. Found in ankylosaurs, stegosaurs, โฆ
Pneumaticity
The presence of air-filled cavities in bones, connected to the respiratory system. Found in theropods โฆ
Postcranial
All skeletal elements behind and below the skull. Postcranial anatomy includes the vertebral column, limbs, โฆ
Predentary Bone
A small unpaired bone at the tip of the lower jaw, unique to ornithischian dinosaurs. โฆ
Supraorbital
Located above the eye socket. Supraorbital ridges or horns are prominent in many theropods and โฆ
Thagomizer
The spiked tail arrangement of stegosaurid dinosaurs. The term was coined from a Far Side โฆ