Definition

A type of animal that includes all mammals and some extinct reptiles that are believed to be ancestors of mammals.

Example

The synapsid group includes both modern mammals and ancient reptiles that lived millions of years ago.

Conversation

Did you know that a synapsid is a type of animal that includes all mammals?

Really? I had no idea that we were related to those ancient creatures!

Yeah, it's fascinating how they evolved over millions of years.

Absolutely! It's amazing to think about how far we've come from those early synapsids.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Synapsid → It is formed from "syn-" (meaning together) and "apsis" (from Greek "apsis", meaning arch or loop). The term refers to a group of animals characterized by a single temporal fenestra, which is an opening in the skull behind the eyes, thus indicating a specific evolutionary trait that connects them together.

Memory Tip

Think of 'together' ('syn-') and an 'arch' or 'loop' ('apsis') to remember that a synapsid is a type of animal with a specific skull structure that connects them in a unique evolutionary way.

Visually Confused Words