sauropterygian (sa"ropterijian)

and n. [ II. n. A member of the Sauropterygia ; a plesiosaur. Saurornia (sa-rôr'ni-ä), n. pl. [NL.: see Sau rornithes.] A cla of extinct reptiles, the pterodactyls: so named by H. G. Seeley from their resemblance to birds in some respects. The cla corresponds with the order Pterosaur i a or Ornithosaur i a. [Not in use.]