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These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and their definitions from the first lesson on dinosaur appearances and anatomy.
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palaeontology
The study of all prehistoric life.
fossil
Any preserved evidence left behind by a prehistoric organism.
vertebrates
Animals that have skeletal adaptations including skulls and vertebrae.
invertebrates
Animals that lack vertebrae, such as insects and jellyfish.
sarischian
A group of dinosaurs characterized by a pubis that extends downwards and forwards.
ornithischian
A group of dinosaurs characterized by a pubis that extends downwards and backwards.
sauropodomorphs
Large herbivorous dinosaurs with elongated necks and relatively small heads.
theropods
Bipedal saurischian dinosaurs that were primarily carnivorous.
osteoderms
Bones that develop within the skin, common in animal armor.
integument
The body covering of an organism, including skin and scales.
gastralia
Small ribs positioned across a dinosaur’s underbelly, underneath the ribcage.
fenestrae
Large openings in dinosaur skulls that provide space for jaw muscles.
dental batteries
Collectively large chewing surfaces formed by rows of tightly packed teeth.
keratin
A tough material that composes scales, feathers, and skin of many organisms.
melanosomes
Pigment cells within feathers that influence feather coloration.
Sinosauropteryx
The first dinosaur known to have fossilized feathers discovered in Liaoning, China.