gnathostome

English

The crocodile is a good example of a gnathostome, with its vertically opening jaws and its endoskeleton protecting its brain and spinal cord

Etymology

From translingual Gnathostomata.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈnæθəstəʊm/

Noun

gnathostome (plural gnathostomes)

1. (zoology) Any vertebrate with jaws, including amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and most modern fish, in contrast with the Agnatha
   • 2009 January 15, Martin D. Brazeau, “The braincase and jaws of a Devonian 'acanthodian' and modern gnathostome origins”, Nature Volume 457 No. 7227, doi:10.1038/nature07436:

     Current conceptions of gnathostome phylogeny depict a rather simplistic arrangement of nominally monophyletic and, apparently, morphologically disparate groups.