TETRAPOD

Tetrapod

The superclass Tetrapoda, or the tetrapods, comprises the first four-limbed vertebrates and their descendants, including the living and extinct amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. The tetrapods evolved from the lobe-finned fishes about 395 million years ago in the Devonian Period. The specific aquatic ancestors of the tetrapods, and the process by which land colonization occurred, remain unclear, and are areas of active research and debate among palaeontologists at present.

The above text is a snippet from Wikipedia: Tetrapod
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

tetrapod

Noun

  1. Any vertebrate with four limbs.
  2. Any vertebrate (such as birds or snakes) that have evolved from early tetrapods; especially all members of the superclass Tetrapoda
  3. Concrete structures with 'arms' used to arrest wave energy along the shore in sea defence projects.

Adjective

  1. Having four limbs or feet


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: tetrapod
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

Need help with a clue?
Try your search in the crossword dictionary!