chelonian

American  

[ki-loh-nee-uhn] / kɪˈloʊ ni ən /

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the reptilian order Testudines (formerly Chelonia), comprising turtles, tortoises, and terrapins.

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noun

1. a turtle, tortoise, or terrapin.

chelonian British  

/ kɪˈləʊnɪən /

noun

1. any reptile of the order Chelonia, including the tortoises and turtles, in which most of the body is enclosed in a protective bony capsule

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adjective

1. of, relating to, belonging to, or characteristic of the Chelonia

chelonian Scientific  

/ kĭ-lō′nē-ən /

1. Any of various reptiles of the order Chelonia (or Testudines), which includes the turtles and tortoises. Chelonians lack teeth and usually have a hard shell that protects the body and consists of bony plates fused to the vertebrae and ribs. Unlike all other living reptiles, the skulls of chelonians lack temporal openings, which is characteristic of the earliest known reptiles (called anapsids). Chelonians evolved during the late Permian or Triassic Period and have changed little since.

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Etymology

Origin of chelonian

First recorded in 1820–30; from New Latin Chelōni(a) (from Greek chelṓn(ē) “turtle” + Latin -ia, neuter plural noun suffix) + -an

Example Sentences

He remains the only chelonian to have been given an obituary in this newspaper.

From Economist • Sep. 25, 2014

The first three wall cases are devoted to the batrachian or Frog fossils; some of the chelonian or Tortoise fossils; and the fossil crocodiles.

From How to See the British Museum in Four Visits by Jerrold, W. Blanchard

"Contempt will pierce the armor of a tortoise," says an oriental proverb; and poor Ragni had no chelonian armor.

From Essays on Scandinavian Literature by Boyesen, Hjalmar Hjorth

Pygal, pī′gal, adj. belonging to the rump or posteriors of an animal.—n. the posterior median or supracaudal plate of a chelonian carapace.—n.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various

However, this is not the most general use to which the chelonian eggs are put in the provinces of Amazones and Para.

From Eight Hundred Leagues on the Amazon by Verne, Jules

Related Words

• tortoise