archosaurian reptile

Meaning

A member of a diverse group of diapsid reptiles characterized by specific skull openings and teeth set in sockets, encompassing modern crocodilians and birds, as well as extinct dinosaurs and pterosaurs.

Examples

• Paleontologists study the fossil record to understand how the archosaurian reptile lineage diversified during the Triassic period.
• While birds are biologically classified within the clade of archosaurian reptiles, they are often discussed separately in casual conversation.