ophidian

Definition

Any species of the suborder Serpentes; a snake or serpent.

Etymology

From Latin ophidia (from Ancient Greek ὄφις (óphis, “snake”)) + -ian.

Example Sentences

• "Vertebral structure is critical for the identification of fossil snakes, because vertebrae are among the most easily fossilized parts of ophidians."
• "It has long been known that ophidians have lost not only their front legs but also every embryonic trace of these limbs and their associated shoulder girdle (to such a degree that we cannot determine how many cervical vertebrae they have)."
• "Siamese or double monsters are well known in saurians, chelonians, and ophidians, as are bicephalic, two-tailed and conjoined bodies (thoracodymus, ischiodymus, etc.)."