Diapsida (Noun)
Meaning
Used in former classifications to include all living reptiles except turtles; superseded by the two subclasses Lepidosauria and Archosauria.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- In older reptile classification systems, Diapsida included allizards, snakes, crocodiles, and many extinct forms, but this group has undergone significant revision.
- The clade Diapsida initially encompassed a wide range of reptiles until it was later divided into more specific subclasses.
- The class Reptilia was traditionally divided into four subclasses, but these days the clade Diapsida is no longer used in its original form.
- Before more modern classifications, Diapsida served as a reptile clade to define the shared skull characteristics among many species.
- In historical classifications of reptiles, the Diapsida group played a key role in organizing species based on the presence of diapsid skull features.