metatherian

English

Etymology

Metatheria +‎ -an

Adjective

metatherian (comparative more metatherian, superlative most metatherian)

1. (zoology) Belonging or pertaining to the infraclass Metatheria of marsupials. [from 19th c.]

Noun

metatherian (plural metatherians)

1. (zoology) A member of the infraclass Metatheria. [from 19th c.]
   • 2022, Thomas Halliday, Otherlands, Penguin, published 2023, page 102:

     The pouched metatherians, the progenitors of marsupials, used to be common all over North America.