crossopterygian

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English

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Etymology

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From Crossopterygia +‎ -an, Greek krossoí “tassels, fringe” + -o- + pterýgion “little wing or fin,” equivalent to pteryg- (stem of pterýx ) “wing, fin” + -ion + -an.

Adjective

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crossopterygian (not comparable)

  1. (zoology) Of or pertaining to the Crossopterygii, an infraclass of bony fish. [from 19th c.]
    • 2000, Richard Fortey, “No Such Thing as a Fish”, in London Review of Books, volume 22, number 13:
      One consequence was that the crossopterygian fishes (distantly related to the famous ‘living fossil’ coelacanth Latimeria) were dethroned from their privileged position as ancestors.

Noun

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crossopterygian (plural crossopterygians)

  1. (zoology) One of the Crossopterygii.