History UsefulNotes / PrehistoricLife

# '''''-odon/-odonto-''''': Greek for “tooth”. Animals with notable teeth (or that are known mainly by their teeth) can get names containing this. ''E.g.'' ''Thecodontosaurus'', ''Carcharodontosaurus''[[note]] “shark-toothed lizard”[[/note]]. A mammalian example is ''Smilodon''. Other examples: ''Iguanodon'', ''Hypsilophodon'', ''Troodon'', ''Dimetrodon'', ''Dimorphodon'', ''Megalodon'', ''Glyptodon''. A deceptive case is ''Pteranodon'', which actually means “winged with ''no'' teeth”. Less-frequent is the variant '''''-odus''''', with the same meaning: ''Placodus'', ''Hybodus'', ''Phenacodus''.

# '''''-pelta''''': Greek for “shield”. Very common in ankylosaur names. ''E.g.'' ''Sauropelta'', ''Borealopelta''.

# '''''-pithecus''''': Greek for “monkey”. The hallmark of most prehistoric primates, human ancestors included. ''E.g.'' ''Aegyptopithecus'', ''Oreopithecus'', ''Australopithecus''.

# '''''-batrachus''''': Greek for “frog”. Several ancient amphibians (not only frogs) have this. ''E.g.'' ''Triadobatrachus''.
# '''''-ichthys''''': Greek for “fish”. Indicates many [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin fish]], ''i.e.'' non-tetrapod vertebrates. ''E.g.'' ''Leedsichthys'', ''Saurichthys''. ''Ichthyosaurus'' and ''Icthyovenator'' are non-piscine examples.

When reading the examples, you’ll notice that you can place many prehistoric critters into their correct groups with much confidence simply by observing their hallmark suffixes. But also note that ''not all'' members of each group have their designated suffix; nor are these suffixes necessarily exclusive of these groups (think about the whale ''Basilosaurus''). Usually these suffixes are Latinized Greek, but there are many examples from languages other than Latin and Greek, such as ''Yutyrannus''[[note]]''Yu'' is Mandarin for “feathered dragon”[[/note]], ''Azhdarcho''[[note]]named after a creature of Iranian mythology[[/note]], ''Tawa''[[note]]named for the Hopi sun god[[/note]], and ''Yi''[[note]]''Yi'' is Chinese for "wing"[[/note]]. Perhaps the most famous example of them is ''Quetzalcoatlus''[[note]]From Quetzalcoatl, the giant Aztec [[FeatheredDragons feathered snake]][[/note]]. Some names are even English: ''Drinker''[[note]]for nineteenth-century paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope[[/note]], ''Dreadnoughtus'' [[note]]from a gigantic warship of the past, the Dreadnought[[/note]]. Some names come from modern geography: ''Mosasaurus''[[note]]The Meuse River in Europe: its jaws were found nearby[[/note]], ''Edmontosaurus'', ''Albertosaurus''[[note]]Edmonton, Alberta, Canada[[/note]], ''Lesothosaurus''[[note]]Lesotho, a mini-state of Southern Africa[[/note]], ''Mamenchisaurus'', ''Tuojiangosaurus''[[note]]Ma-Men-Chi and Tuo-Jiang are two localities of China[[/note]], ''Saltasaurus'', ''Riojasaurus''[[note]]Salta and La Rioja, the two provinces of Argentina that have given their remains[[/note]], ''Minmi'', ''Muttaburrasaurus''[[note]]Minmi Crossing and Muttaburra, the places in Australia where their fossils were dug out[[/note]], ''Lisowicia''[[note]]Lisowice, a village in Poland near its fossil site.[[/note]]. Others come from RealLife people's names: ''Andrewsarchus''[[note]]early-twentieth-century paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews[[/note]]. ''Othnielosaurus'' [[note]]famous nineteenth-century dinosaur-hunter Othniel Charles Marsh, the Cope's archrival within the "Bone Wars"[[/note]], ''Herrerasaurus'', ''Alvarezsaurus''[[note]]Herrera and Alvarez are two common surnames in the hispanic-speaking world[[/note]], ''Scipionyx''[[note]]"Scipio's claw" because was found in Italy, the place of the original Roman Empire[[/note]], ''Leaellynasaura''[[note]]named after its discoverers' daughter Leaellyn[[/note]], ''Avaceratops''[[note]]named after its describer's wife, Ava[[/note]].

When reading the examples, you’ll notice that you can place many prehistoric critters into their correct groups with much confidence simply by observing their hallmark suffixes. But also note that ''not all'' members of each group have their designated suffix; nor are these suffixes necessarily exclusive of these groups (think about the whale ''Basilosaurus''). Usually these suffixes are Latinized Greek, but there are many examples from languages other than Latin and Greek, such as ''Yutyrannus''[[note]]''Yu'' is Mandarin for “feathered dragon”[[/note]], ''Azhdarcho''[[note]]named after a creature of Iranian mythology[[/note]], ''Tawa''[[note]]named for the Hopi sun god[[/note]], ''Yi''[[note]]''Yi'' is Chinese for "wing"[[/note]]. Perhaps the most famous example of them is ''Quetzalcoatlus''[[note]]From Quetzalcoatl, the giant Aztec [[FeatheredDragons feathered snake]][[/note]]. Some names are even English: ''Drinker''[[note]]for nineteenth-century paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope[[/note]], ''Dreadnoughtus'' [[note]]from a gigantic warship of the past, the Dreadnought[[/note]]. Some names come from modern geography: ''Mosasaurus''[[note]]The Meuse River in Europe where its jaws were found nearby[[/note]], ''Edmontosaurus'', ''Edmontonia'', ''Albertosaurus''[[note]]Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, where they were discovered originally[[/note]], ''Saltasaurus'', ''Riojasaurus''[[note]]Salta and La Rioja, the two provinces of Argentina that have given their remains[[/note]], ''Minmi'', ''Muttaburrasaurus''[[note]]Minmi Crossing and Muttaburra, the places in Australia where their fossils were dug out[[/note]], ''Lisowicia''[[note]]Lisowice, a village in Poland near its fossil site.[[/note]]. Others come from RealLife people's names: ''Andrewsarchus''[[note]]early-twentieth-century paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews[[/note]]. ''Othnielosaurus'' [[note]]famous nineteenth-century dinosaur-hunter Othniel Charles Marsh, the Cope's archrival within the "Bone Wars"[[/note]], ''Herrerasaurus'', ''Alvarezsaurus''[[note]]Herrera and Alvarez are two common surnames in the hispanic-speaking world[[/note]], ''Scipionyx''[[note]]"Scipio's claw" because was found in Italy, the place of the original Roman Empire[[/note]], ''Leaellynasaura''[[note]]named after its discoverers' daughter Leaellyn[[/note]], ''Avaceratops''[[note]]named after its describer's wife, Ava[[/note]].

When reading the examples, you’ll notice that you can place many prehistoric critters into their correct groups with much confidence simply by observing their hallmark suffixes. But also note that ''not all'' members of each group have their designated suffix; nor are these suffixes necessarily exclusive of these groups (think about the whale ''Basilosaurus''). Usually these suffixes are Latinized Greek, but there are many examples from languages other than Latin and Greek, such as ''Yutyrannus''[[note]]''Yu'' is Mandarin for “feathered dragon”[[/note]], ''Azhdarcho''[[note]]named after a creature of Iranian mythology[[/note]], ''Tawa''[[note]]named for the Hopi sun god[[/note]], and ''Yi''[[note]]''Yi'' is Chinese for "wing"[[/note]]. Perhaps the most famous example of them is ''Quetzalcoatlus''[[note]]From Quetzalcoatl, the giant Aztec [[FeatheredDragons feathered snake]][[/note]]. Some names are even English: ''Drinker''[[note]]for nineteenth-century paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope[[/note]] and ''Dreadnoughtus'' [[note]]from a gigantic warship of the past, the Dreadnought[[/note]]. Some names come from modern geography: ''Mosasaurus''[[note]]The Meuse River in Europe where its jaws were found nearby[[/note]], ''Edmontosaurus'', ''Edmontonia'', ''Albertosaurus''[[note]]Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, where they were discovered originally[[/note]], ''Saltasaurus'', ''Riojasaurus''[[note]]Salta and La Rioja, the two provinces of Argentina that have given their remains[[/note]], ''Minmi'', ''Muttaburrasaurus''[[note]]Minmi Crossing and Muttaburra, the places in Australia where their fossils were dug out[[/note]], ''Lisowicia''[[note]]Lisowice, a village in Poland near its fossil site.[[/note]]. Others come from RealLife people's names: ''Andrewsarchus''[[note]]early-twentieth-century paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews[[/note]]. ''Othnielosaurus'' [[note]]famous nineteenth-century dinosaur-hunter Othniel Charles Marsh, the Cope's archrival within the "Bone Wars"[[/note]], ''Herrerasaurus'', ''Alvarezsaurus''[[note]]Herrera and Alvarez are two common surnames in the hispanic-speaking world[[/note]], ''Scipionyx''[[note]]"Scipio's claw" because was found in Italy, the place of the original Roman Empire[[/note]], ''Leaellynasaura''[[note]]named after its discoverers' daughter Leaellyn[[/note]], ''Avaceratops''[[note]]named after its describer's wife, Ava[[/note]].

When reading the examples, you’ll notice that you can place many prehistoric critters into their correct groups with much confidence simply by observing their hallmark suffixes. But also note that ''not all'' members of each group have their designated suffix; nor are these suffixes necessarily exclusive of these groups (think about the whale ''Basilosaurus''). Usually these suffixes are Latinized Greek, but there are many examples from languages other than Latin and Greek, such as ''Yutyrannus''[[note]]''Yu'' is Mandarin for “feathered dragon”[[/note]], ''Azhdarcho''[[note]]named after a creature of Iranian mythology[[/note]], ''Tawa''[[note]]named for the Hopi sun god[[/note]], and ''Yi''[[note]]''Yi'' is Chinese for "wing"[[/note]]. Perhaps the most famous example of them is ''Quetzalcoatlus''[[note]]From Quetzalcoatl, the giant Aztec [[FeatheredDragons feathered snake]][[/note]]. Some names are even English: ''Drinker''[[note]]for nineteenth-century paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope[[/note]] and ''Dreadnoughtus'' [[note]]from a gigantic warship of the past, the Dreadnought[[/note]]. Some names come from modern geography: ''Mosasaurus''[[note]]The Meuse River in Europe where its jaws were found nearby[[/note]], ''Edmontosaurus'', ''Edmontonia'', ''Albertosaurus''[[note]]Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, where they were discovered originally[[/note]], ''Saltasaurus'', ''Riojasaurus''[[note]]Salta and La Rioja, the two provinces of Argentina that have given their remains[[/note]], ''Minmi'', ''Muttaburrasaurus''[[note]]Minmi Crossing and Muttaburra, the places in Australia where their fossils were dug out[[/note]], ''Lisowicia''[[note]]Lisowice, a village in Poland near its fossil site.[[/note]]. Others come from RealLife people's names: ''Andrewsarchus''[[note]]early-twentieth-century paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews[[/note]]. ''Othnielosaurus'' [[note]]famous nineteenth-century dinosaur-hunter Othniel Charles Marsh, the Cope's archrival within the "Bone Wars"[[/note]], ''Herrerasaurus'' and ''Alvarezsaurus''[[note]]Herrera and Alvarez are two common surnames in the hispanic-speaking world[[/note]], ''Scipionyx''[[note]]"Scipio's claw" because was found in Italy, the place of the original Roman Empire[[/note]], ''Leaellynasaura''[[note]]named after its discoverers' daughter Leaellyn[[/note]], ''Avaceratops''[[note]]named after its describer's wife, Ava[[/note]].

When reading the examples, you’ll notice that you can place many prehistoric critters into their correct groups with much confidence simply by observing their hallmark suffixes. But also note that ''not all'' members of each group have their designated suffix; nor are these suffixes necessarily exclusive of these groups (think about the whale ''Basilosaurus''). Usually these suffixes are Latinized Greek, but there are many examples from languages other than Latin and Greek, such as ''Yutyrannus''[[note]]''Yu'' is Mandarin for “feathered dragon”[[/note]], ''Azhdarcho''[[note]]named after a creature of Iranian mythology[[/note]], ''Tawa''[[note]]named for the Hopi sun god[[/note]], and ''Yi''[[note]]''Yi'' is Chinese for "wing"[[/note]]. Perhaps the most famous example of them is ''Quetzalcoatlus''[[note]]From Quetzalcoatl, the giant Aztec [[FeatheredDragons feathered snake]][[/note]]. Some names are even English: ''Drinker''[[note]]for nineteenth-century paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope[[/note]] and ''Dreadnoughtus'' [[note]]from a gigantic warship of the past, the Dreadnought[[/note]]. Some names come from modern geography: ''Mosasaurus''[[note]]The Meuse River in Europe[[/note]], ''Edmontosaurus'', ''Edmontonia'', ''Albertosaurus''[[note]]Edmonton, Alberta, Canada[[/note]], ''Saltasaurus'' and ''Riojasaurus''[[note]]Salta and La Rioja, two provinces of Argentina[[/note]], ''Minmi'' and ''Muttaburrasaurus''[[note]]Minmi Crossing and Muttaburra, the places in Australia where their fossils were dug out[[/note]], ''Lisowicia''[[note]]Lisowice, a village in Poland.[[/note]]. Others come from RealLife people: ''Andrewsarchus''[[note]]early-twentieth-century paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews[[/note]]. ''Othnielosaurus'' [[note]]famous nineteenth-century dinosaur-hunter Othniel Charles Marsh, Cope's archrival within the "Bone Wars"[[/note]], ''Scipionyx''[[note]]"Scipio's claw" because was found in Italy, the place of the original Roman Empire[[/note]], ''Leaellynasaura''[[note]]named after its discoverers' daughter Leaellyn[[/note]], ''Avaceratops''[[note]]after its describer's wife, Ava[[/note]].

When reading the examples, you’ll notice that you can place many prehistoric critters into their correct groups with much confidence simply by observing their hallmark suffixes. But also note that ''not all'' members of each group have their designated suffix; nor are these suffixes necessarily exclusive of these groups (think about the whale ''Basilosaurus''). Usually these suffixes are Latinized Greek, but there are many examples from languages other than Latin and Greek, such as ''Yutyrannus''[[note]]''Yu'' is Mandarin for “feathered dragon”[[/note]], ''Azhdarcho''[[note]]named after a creature of Iranian mythology[[/note]], ''Tawa''[[note]]named for the Hopi sun god[[/note]], and ''Yi''[[note]]''Yi'' is Chinese for "wing"[[/note]]. Perhaps the most famous example of them is ''Quetzalcoatlus''[[note]]From Quetzalcoatl, the giant Aztec [[FeatheredDragons feathered snake]][[/note]]. Some names are even English: ''Drinker''[[note]]for nineteenth-century paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope[[/note]] and ''Dreadnoughtus'' [[note]]from a gigantic warship of the past, the Dreadnought[[/note]]. Some names come from modern geography: ''Mosasaurus''[[note]]The Meuse River in Europe[[/note]], ''Edmontosaurus'', ''Edmontonia'', ''Albertosaurus''[[note]]Edmonton, Alberta, Canada[[/note]], ''Minmi'' and ''Muttaburrasaurus''[[note]]after Minmi Crossing and Muttaburra, the places in Australia where their fossils were dug out[[/note]], ''Lisowicia''[[note]]after Lisowice, a village in Poland.[[/note]]. Others come from RealLife people: ''Andrewsarchus''[[note]]early-twentieth-century paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews[[/note]]. ''Othnielosaurus'' [[note]]famous nineteenth-century dinosaur-hunter Othniel Charles Marsh, Cope's archrival within the "Bone Wars"[[/note]], ''Scipionyx''[[note]]"Scipio's claw" because was found in Italy, the place of the original Roman Empire[[/note]], ''Leaellynasaura''[[note]]named after its discoverers' daughter Leaellyn[[/note]], ''Avaceratops''[[note]]after its describer's wife, Ava[[/note]].

When reading the examples, you’ll notice that you can place many prehistoric critters into their correct groups with much confidence simply by observing their hallmark suffixes. But also note that ''not all'' members of each group have their designated suffix; nor are these suffixes necessarily exclusive of these groups (think about the whale ''Basilosaurus''). Usually these suffixes are Latinized Greek, but there are many examples from languages other than Latin and Greek, such as ''Yutyrannus''[[note]]''Yu'' is Mandarin for “feathered dragon”[[/note]], ''Azhdarcho''[[note]]named after a creature of Iranian mythology[[/note]], ''Tawa''[[note]]named for the Hopi sun god[[/note]], and ''Yi''[[note]]"''Yi'' is Chinese for "wing"[[/note]]. Perhaps the most famous example of them is ''Quetzalcoatlus''[[note]]From Quetzalcoatl, the giant Aztec [[FeatheredDragons feathered snake]][[/note]]. Some names are even English: ''Drinker''[[note]]for nineteenth-century paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope[[/note]] and ''Dreadnoughtus'' [[note]]from a gigantic warship of the past, the Dreadnought, + the usual Latin suffix ''-us''[[/note]]. Some names come from modern geography: ''Mosasaurus''[[note]]The Meuse River in Europe[[/note]], ''Edmontosaurus'', ''Edmontonia'', ''Albertosaurus''[[note]]Edmonton, Alberta, Canada[[/note]], ''Minmi'' and ''Muttaburrasaurus''[[note]]after Minmi Crossing and Muttaburra, the places in Australia where their fossils were dug out[[/note]], ''Lisowicia''[[note]]after Lisowice, a village in Poland.[[/note]]. Others come from RealLife people: ''Andrewsarchus''[[note]]early-twentieth-century paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews[[/note]]. ''Othnielosaurus'' [[note]]famous nineteenth-century dinosaur-hunter Othniel Charles Marsh, Cope's archrival within the "Bone Wars"[[/note]], ''Scipionyx''[[note]]"Scipio's claw" because was found in Italy, the place of the original Roman Empire[[/note]], ''Leaellynasaura''[[note]]named after its discoverers' daughter Leaellyn[[/note]], ''Avaceratops''[[note]]after its describer's wife, Ava[[/note]].

When reading the examples, you’ll notice that you can place many prehistoric critters into their correct groups with much confidence simply by observing their hallmark suffixes. But also note that ''not all'' members of each group have their designated suffix; nor are these suffixes necessarily exclusive of these groups (think about the whale ''Basilosaurus''). Usually these suffixes are Latinized Greek, but there are many examples from languages other than Latin and Greek, such as ''Yutyrannus''[[note]]''Yu'' is Mandarin for “feathered dragon”[[/note]], ''Azhdarcho''[[note]]named after a creature of Iranian mythology[[/note]], and ''Tawa''[[note]]named for the Hopi sun god[[/note]]. Perhaps the most famous example is ''Quetzalcoatlus''[[note]]From Quetzalcoatl, the giant Aztec [[FeatheredDragons feathered snake]][[/note]]. Some names are even English: ''Drinker''[[note]]for nineteenth-century paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope[[/note]], ''Dreadnoughtus'' [[note]]from a gigantic warship of the past, the Dreadnought, + the usual Latin suffix ''-us''[[/note]]. Some names come from modern geography: ''Edmontosaurus'', ''Edmontonia'', ''Albertosaurus''[[note]]Edmonton, Alberta, Canada[[/note]], ''Minmi'' and ''Muttaburrasaurus''[[note]]after Minmi Crossing and Muttaburra, the places in Australia where their fossils were dug out[[/note]], ''Lisowicia''[[note]]after Lisowice, a village in Poland.[[/note]]. Others come from RealLife people: ''Andrewsarchus''[[note]]early-twentieth-century paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews[[/note]]. ''Othnielosaurus'' [[note]]famous nineteenth-century dinosaur-hunter Othniel Charles Marsh, Cope's archrival within the "Bone Wars"[[/note]], ''Scipionyx''[[note]]"Scipio's claw" because was found in Italy, the place of the original Roman Empire[[/note]], ''Leaellynasaura''[[note]]named after its discoverers' daughter Leaellyn[[/note]], ''Avaceratops''[[note]]after its describer's wife, Ava[[/note]].

When reading the examples, you’ll notice that you can place many prehistoric critters into their correct groups with much confidence simply by observing their hallmark suffixes. But also note that ''not all'' members of each group have their designated suffix; nor are these suffixes necessarily exclusive of these groups (think about the whale ''Basilosaurus''). Usually these suffixes are Latinized Greek, but there are many examples from languages other than Latin and Greek, such as ''Yutyrannus''[[note]]''Yu'' is Mandarin for “feathered dragon”[[/note]], ''Azhdarcho''[[note]]named after a creature of Iranian mythology[[/note]], and ''Tawa''[[note]]named for the Hopi sun god[[/note]]. Perhaps the most famous example is ''Quetzalcoatlus''[[note]]From Quetzalcoatl, the giant Aztec [[FeatheredDragons feathered snake]][[/note]]. Some names are even English: ''Drinker''[[note]]for nineteenth-century paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope[[/note]], ''Dreadnoughtus'' [[note]]from a gigantic warship of the past, the Dreadnought[[/note]]. Some names come from modern geography: ''Edmontosaurus'', ''Edmontonia'', ''Albertosaurus''[[note]]Edmonton, Alberta, Canada[[/note]], ''Minmi'' and ''Muttaburrasaurus''[[note]]after Minmi Crossing and Muttaburra, the places in Australia where their fossils were dug out[[/note]], ''Lisowicia''[[note]]after Lisowice, a village in Poland.[[/note]]. Others come from RealLife people: ''Andrewsarchus''[[note]]early-twentieth-century paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews[[/note]]. ''Othnielosaurus'' [[note]]famous nineteenth-century dinosaur-hunter Othniel Charles Marsh, Cope's archrival within the "Bone Wars"[[/note]], ''Scipionyx''[[note]]"Scipio's claw" because was found in Italy, the place of the original Roman Empire[[/note]], ''Leaellynasaura''[[note]]named after its discoverers' daughter Leaellyn[[/note]], ''Avaceratops''[[note]]after its deecriber's wife, Ava[[/note]].

When reading the examples, you’ll notice that you can place many prehistoric critters into their correct groups with much confidence simply by observing their hallmark suffixes. But also note that ''not all'' members of each group have their designated suffix; nor are these suffixes necessarily exclusive of these groups (think about the whale ''Basilosaurus''). Usually these suffixes are Latinized Greek, but there are many examples from languages other than Latin and Greek, such as ''Yutyrannus''[[note]]''Yu'' is Mandarin for “feathered dragon”[[/note]], ''Azhdarcho''[[note]]named after a creature of Iranian mythology[[/note]], and ''Tawa''[[note]]named for the Hopi sun god[[/note]]. Perhaps the most famous example is ''Quetzalcoatlus''[[note]]From Quetzalcoatl, the giant Aztec [[FeatheredDragons feathered snake]][[/note]]. Some names are even English: ''Drinker''[[note]]for nineteenth-century paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope[[/note]], ''Dreadnoughtus'' [[note]]from a gigantic warship of the past, the Dreadnought[[/note]]. Some names come from modern geography: ''Edmontosaurus'', ''Edmontonia'', ''Albertosaurus''[[note]]Edmonton, Alberta, Canada[[/note]], ''Minmi'' and ''Muttaburrasaurus''[[note]]after Minmi Crossing and Muttaburra, the places in Australia where their fossils were dug out[[/note]], ''Lisowicia''[[note]]after Lisowice, a village in Poland.[[/note]]. Others come from RealLife people: ''Andrewsarchus''[[note]]early-twentieth-century paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews[[/note]]. ''Othnielosaurus'' [[note]]famous nineteenth-century dinosaur-hunter Othniel Charles Marsh, Cope's archrival within the "Bone Wars".[[/note]], ''Scipionyx''[[note]]"Scipio's claw" because was found in Italy, the place of the original Roman Empire.[[/note]], ''Leaellynasaura''[[note]]named after its discoverers' daughter Leaellyn.[[/note]], ''Avaceratops''[[note]]after its deecriber's wife, Ava.[[/note]].

When reading the examples, you’ll notice that you can place many prehistoric critters into their correct groups with much confidence simply by observing their hallmark suffixes. But also note that ''not all'' members of each group have their designated suffix; nor are these suffixes necessarily exclusive of these groups (think about the whale ''Basilosaurus''). Usually these suffixes are Latinized Greek, but there are many examples from languages other than Latin and Greek, such as ''Yutyrannus''[[note]]''Yu'' is Mandarin for “feathered dragon”[[/note]], ''Azhdarcho''[[note]]named after a creature of Iranian mythology[[/note]], and ''Tawa''[[note]]named for the Hopi sun god[[/note]]. Perhaps the most famous example is ''Quetzalcoatlus''[[note]]From Quetzalcoatl, the giant Aztec [[FeatheredDragons feathered snake]][[/note]]. Some names are even English: ''Drinker''[[note]]for nineteenth-century paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope[[/note]], ''Dreadnoughtus'' [[note]]from a gigantic warship of the past, the Dreadnought[[/note]]. Some names come from modern geography: ''Edmontosaurus'', ''Edmontonia'', ''Albertosaurus''[[note]]Edmonton, Alberta, Canada[[/note]], ''Minmi'' and ''Muttaburrasaurus''[[note]]after Minmi Crossing and Muttaburra, the places in Australia where their fossils were dug out[[/note]], ''Lisowicia''[[note]]after Lisowice, a village in Poland.[[/note]]. Others come from RealLife people: ''Andrewsarchus''[[note]]early-twentieth-century paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews[[/note]]. ''Scipionyx''[[note]]"Scipio's claw" because was found in Italy, the place of the early Roman Empire.[[/note]], ''Leaellynasaura''[[note]]after its discoverers' daughter Leaellyn.[[/note]], ''Avaceratops''[[note]]after its deecriber's wife, Ava.[[/note]].

When reading the examples, you’ll notice that you can place many prehistoric critters into their correct groups with much confidence simply by observing their hallmark suffixes. But also note that ''not all'' members of each group have their designated suffix; nor are these suffixes necessarily exclusive of these groups (think about the whale ''Basilosaurus''). Usually these suffixes are Latinized Greek, but there are many examples from languages other than Latin and Greek, such as ''Yutyrannus''[[note]]''Yu'' is Mandarin for “feathered dragon”[[/note]], ''Azhdarcho''[[note]]named after a creature of Iranian mythology[[/note]], and ''Tawa''[[note]]named for the Hopi sun god[[/note]]. Perhaps the most famous example is ''Quetzalcoatlus''[[note]]From Quetzalcoatl, the giant Aztec [[FeatheredDragons feathered snake]][[/note]]. Some names are even English: ''Drinker''[[note]]for nineteenth-century paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope[[/note]], ''Dreadnoughtus'' [[note]]from a gigantic warship of the past, the Dreadnought[[/note]], and ''Andrewsarchus''[[note]]early-twentieth-century paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews[[/note]]. Other names come from modern geography: ''Edmontonia''[[note]]Edmonton, Alberta, Canada[[/note]], ''Minmi'' and ''Muttaburrasaurus''[[note]]after Minmi Crossing and Muttaburra, the places in Australia where their fossils were dug out[[/note]], ''Lisowicia''[[note]]after Lisowice, in Poland.[[/note]].

When reading the examples, you’ll notice that you can place many prehistoric critters into their correct groups with much confidence simply by observing their hallmark suffixes. But also note that ''not all'' members of each group have their designated suffix; nor are these suffixes necessarily exclusive of these groups (think about the whale ''Basilosaurus''). Usually these suffixes are Latinized Greek, but there are many examples from languages other than Latin and Greek, such as ''Yutyrannus''[[note]]''Yu'' is Mandarin for “feathered dragon”[[/note]], ''Azhdarcho''[[note]]named after a creature of Iranian mythology[[/note]], and ''Tawa''[[note]]named for the Hopi sun god[[/note]]. Some names are even English: ''Drinker''[[note]]for nineteenth-century paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope[[/note]], ''Dreadnoughtus'' [[note]]from a gigantic warship of the past, the Dreadnought[[/note]], and ''Andrewsarchus''[[note]]early-twentieth-century paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews[[/note]]. Other names come from modern geography: ''Edmontonia''[[note]]Edmonton, Alberta, Canada[[/note]], ''Minmi'' and ''Muttaburrasaurus''[[note]]after Minmi Crossing and Muttaburra, the places in Australia where their fossils were dug out[[/note]], ''Lisowicia''[[note]]after Lisowice, in Poland.[[/note]].

When reading the examples, you’ll notice that you can place many prehistoric critters into their correct groups with much confidence simply by observing their hallmark suffixes. But also note that ''not all'' members of each group have their designated suffix; nor are these suffixes are necessarily exclusive of these groups (think about the whale ''Basilosaurus''). Usually these suffixes are Latinized Greek, but there are many examples from languages other than Latin and Greek, such as ''Yutyrannus''[[note]]''Yu'' is Mandarin for “feathered dragon”[[/note]], ''Azhdarcho''[[note]]named after a creature of Iranian mythology[[/note]], and ''Tawa''[[note]]named for the Hopi sun god[[/note]]. Some names are even English: ''Drinker''[[note]]for nineteenth-century paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope[[/note]], ''Dreadnoughtus'' [[note]]from a gigantic warship of the past, the Dreadnought[[/note]], and ''Andrewsarchus''[[note]]early-twentieth-century paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews[[/note]]. Other names come from modern geography: ''Edmontonia''[[note]]Edmonton, Alberta, Canada[[/note]], ''Minmi'' and ''Muttaburrasaurus''[[note]]after Minmi Crossing and Muttaburra, the places in Australia where their fossils were dug out[[/note]], ''Lisowicia''[[note]]after Lisowice, in Poland.[[/note]].

When reading the examples, you’ll notice that you can place many prehistoric critters into their correct groups with much confidence simply by observing their hallmark suffixes. But also note that ''not all'' members of each group have their designated suffix; nor are these suffixes are necessarily exclusive of these groups (think about the whale ''Basilosaurus''). Usually these suffixes are Latinized Greek, but there are many examples from languages other than Latin and Greek, such as ''Yutyrannus''[[note]]''Yu'' is Mandarin for “feathered dragon”[[/note]], ''Azhdarcho''[[note]]named after a creature of Iranian mythology[[/note]], and ''Tawa''[[note]]named for the Hopi sun god[[/note]]. Some names are even English: ''Drinker''[[note]]for nineteenth-century paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope[[/note]] and ''Andrewsarchus''[[note]]early-twentieth-century paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews[[/note]]. Other names come from modern geography: ''Edmontonia''[[note]]Edmonton, Alberta, Canada[[/note]], ''Minmi'' and ''Muttaburrasaurus''[[note]]after Minmi Crossing and Muttaburra, the places in Australia where their fossils were dug out[[/note]], ''Lisowicia''[[note]]after Lisowice, in Poland.[[/note]].

# '''''-ceras''''': Greek for “horn”. Many nautiloids (shelled cephalopods) have this, due to their horn-shaped shells. ''E.g.'' ''Orthoceras'', ''Rhizoceras'', ''Rayonnoceras''.

# '''''-ite''''': This suffix is typical for minerals, but has also been applied to some fossil groups of invertebrates (since fossils and rocks have always been associated with each other): more famously the Ammonites and the Trilobites, but also the Belemnites, the Graptolites and the protozoan Nummulites.

When reading the examples, you’ll notice that you can place many prehistoric critters into their correct groups with much confidence simply by observing their hallmark suffixes. But also note that ''not all'' members of each group have their designated suffix; nor are these suffixes are necessarily exclusive of these groups (think about the whale ''Basilosaurus''). Usually these suffixes are Latinized Greek, but there are many examples from languages other than Latin and Greek, such as ''Yutyrannus''[[note]]''Yu'' is Mandarin for “feathered dragon”[[/note]], ''Azhdarcho''[[note]]named after a creature of Iranian mythology[[/note]], and ''Tawa''[[note]]named for the Hopi sun god[[/note]]. Some names are even English: ''Drinker''[[note]]for nineteenth-century paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope[[/note]] and ''Andrewsarchus''[[note]]early-twentieth-century paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews[[/note]]. Other names come from modern geography: ''Edmontonia''[[note]]Edmonton, Alberta, Canada[[/note]], ''Minmi'' and ''Muttaburrasaurus''[[note]]after Minmi Crossing and Muttaburra, the places in Australia where their fossils were dug out[[/note]], ''Lisowicia''[[note]]after Lisowice, in Poland[[/note]]

When reading the examples, you’ll notice that you can place many prehistoric critters into their correct groups with much confidence simply by observing their hallmark suffixes. But also note that ''not all'' members of each group have their designated suffix; nor are these suffixes are necessarily exclusive of these groups (think about the whale ''Basilosaurus''). Usually these suffixes are Latinized Greek, but there are many examples from languages other than Latin and Greek, such as ''Yutyrannus''[[note]]''Yu'' is Mandarin for “feathered dragon”[[/note]], ''Azhdarcho''[[note]]named after a creature of Iranian mythology[[/note]], and ''Tawa''[[note]]named for the Hopi sun god[[/note]]. Some names are even English: ''Drinker''[[note]]for nineteenth-century paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope[[/note]] and ''Andrewsarchus''[[note]]early-twentieth-century paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews[[/note]]. Other names come from modern geography: ''Edmontonia''[[note]]Edmonton, Alberta, Canada[[/note]], ''Minmi'' and ''Muttaburrasaurus''[[note]]after Minmi Crossing and Muttaburra, the places in Australia where their fossils were dug out[[/note]].

# '''''-dactylus''''': Greek for “finger” or “digit”. Typically identifies pterosaurs, from the namesake ''Pterodactylus''[[note]]“winged finger”[[/note]]. ''E.g.'' ''Cearadactylus'', ''Preondactylus'', ''Araripedactylus''

# '''''-mimus''''': Greek for “mimic”: mostly identifies small birdlike theropods, particularly ornithomimids (whose names are usually preceded with a bird-related prefix). ''E.g.'' ''Garudimimus'', ''Avimimus''. Also applied to some larger and smaller dinosaurs; specifically, theropods seem to get this suffix somewhat often, due to their close relation to avian dinosaurs: ''Suchomimus'', ''Sciurumimus''.
# '''''-raptor''''': Latin for “thief”, “plunderer” or “robber”: since the success of ''Franchise/JurassicPark'', identifies mainly dromaeosaurids (''Pyroraptor'', ''Bambiraptor''), but many other theropod dinosaurs are named this as well: ''Oviraptor'', ''Megaraptor'', ''Fukuiraptor''. Birds of prey are also commonly called raptors, but no genus of avian dinosaur contains this suffix in its name.

# '''''-dactylus''''': Greek for “finger” or “digit”. Typically identifies pterosaurs, from the namesake ''Pterodactylus''[[note]]“winged finger”[[/note]]. ''E.g.'' ''Cearadactylus'', ''Preondactylus''.
# '''''-suchus''''': Greek for “crocodile”. In paleontology identifies true crocodilians, crocodile-like reptiles, or crocodile-like amphibians. ''E.g.'' ''Deinosuchus'', ''Titanosuchus'', ''Koolasuchus''. Also meaning “crocodile” is '''''champsus/a''''': ''Pristichampsus'', ''Proterochampsa''. ''Champsosaurus'' means “crocodile lizard”.
# '''''-therium''''': Greek for “beast” or “wild animal”. Most prehistoric mammals have this--the famous documentary ''Series/WalkingWithBeasts'' was so named in reference to the countless ''-therium''s here. ''E.g.'' ''Uintatherium'', ''Paraceratherium'', ''Chalicotherium'', ''Arsinoitherium'', ''Deinotherium'', ''Sivatherium'', ''Moeritherium''. But perhaps the most famous example is ''Megatherium''[[note]]“big beast”[[/note]]. Several ''-saurus''es have their ''-therium'' counterpart, too: ''Brontosaurus'' - "Brontotherium"; ''Stegosaurus'' - ''Stegotherium''; ''Elasmosaurus'' - ''Elasmotherium''; ''Megalosaurus'' - ''Megatherium''; ''Ceratosaurus'' - ''Ceratotherium''[[note]]the scientific name of the ''modern'' white rhinoceros![[/note]]. '''''Ther-''''' has the same meaning and is the prefix of two important groups of animals: the theropods and the therapsids.
# '''''-felis''''': Latin for “cat”. Applied to extinct felids quite a bit of the time. ''E.g.'' ''Dinofelis''. '''''-smilus''''' (meaning “knife”) can indicate sabretooths or pseudo-sabretooths: ''Eusmilus'', ''Thylacosmilus''.
# '''''-cyon, cyno-''''': Greek for “dog”. Applied to extinct canids and other doglike mammals. ''E.g.'' ''Hesperocyon'', ''Cynodesmus''. Some therapsid names have this suffix as well due to their superficial resemblance to dogs: ''Cynognathus'' and its group, the cynodonts (and also their relatives, the dicynodonts).

# '''''-cetus''''': Greek for “sea-monster”. Extinct cetaceans can have this in their name. ''E.g.'' ''Pakicetus'', ''Odobenocetops''.
# '''''-pithecus''''': Greek for “monkey”. The hallmark of most prehistoric primates, human ancestors included. ''E.g.'' ''Oreopithecus'', ''Australopithecus''.
# '''''-ornis''''' and '''''-avis''''': Greek and Latin (respectively) for “bird”. Denotes... [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin guess]]. ''E.g.'' ''Osteodontornis'', ''Icthyornis'', ''Argentavis''. When used as a prefix, “-ornis” becomes '''''ornitho-''''': ''Ornithomimus'', ''Ornithosuchus'', the ornithopods, and the ornithischians.

# '''''-aspis''''': Greek for “shield”. Almost all names of ostracoderms and some placoderms (both armored fish) have this suffix. ''E.g.'' ''Pteraspis'', ''Cephalaspis'', ''Drepanaspis''.
# '''''-ceras''''': Greek for “horn”. Many nautiloids (shelled cephalopods) have this, due to their horn-shaped shells. ''E.g.'' ''Orthoceras'', ''Rhizoceras''.

# '''''-ites''''': This suffix is typical for minerals, but has also been applied to some fossil groups of invertebrates (since fossils and rocks have always been associated with each other): more famously the Ammonites and the Trilobites, but also the Belemnites, the Graptolites and the protozoan Nummulites.

# '''''-pelta''''': Greek for “shield”. Very common in ankylosaur names. ''E.g.'' ''Sauropelta''.

# '''''micro-''''': Greek for “small”, “tiny”. ''E.g.'' ''Microraptor''[[note]]“tiny plunderer”[[/note]], ''Microceratus''[[note]]“small horned one”[[/note]], ''Micropachycephalosaurus''[[note]]“small thick-headed lizard”[[/note]], ''Microvenator''[[note]]“tiny hunter”[[/note]].

# '''''micro-''''': Greek for “small”, “tiny”. ''E.g.'' ''Microraptor''[note]]“tiny plunderer”[[/note]], ''Microceratus''[note]]“small horned one”[[/note]], ''Micropachycephalosaurus''[note]]“small thick-headed lizard”[[/note]], ''Microvenator''[note]]“tiny hunter”[[/note]].

# '''''micro-''''': Greek for “small”, “tiny”. ''E.g.'' ''Microraptor'', ''Microceratus'', ''Micropachycephalosaurus''.

# '''''homo-''''' & '''''hetero''''': Greek for “similar” and “different” respectively. ''E.g.'' ''Homotherium'',[[note]]“"similar beast"”[[/note]]''Heterodontosaurus''[[note]]“"different-toothed lizard"”[[/note]] the Heterostracians[[note]]“"different shells"”[[/note]].

# '''''-odon/-odonto-''''': Greek for “tooth”. Animals with notable teeth (or that are known mainly by their teeth) can get names containing this. ''E.g.'' ''Heterodontosaurus'', ''Carcharodontosaurus''[[note]]“different-toothed lizard” and “shark-toothed lizard”, respectively[[/note]]. A mammalian example is ''Smilodon''. Other examples: ''Iguanodon'', ''Hypsilophodon'', ''Troodon'', ''Dimetrodon'', ''Dimorphodon'', ''Megalodon'', ''Glyptodon''. A deceptive case is ''Pteranodon'', which actually means “winged with ''no'' teeth”. Less-frequent is the variant '''''-odus''''', with the same meaning: ''Placodus'', ''Hybodus'', ''Phenacodus''.