sarcopterygian

English

Etymology

From Sarcopterygii +‎ -ian.

Noun

sarcopterygian (plural sarcopterygians)

1. (biology) Any lobe-finned fish of the class Sarcopterygii, including the lungfish and coelacanths.
   • 1997, Michael J. Benton, Vertebrate Palaeontology, 2nd edition, Chapman & Hall, →ISBN, page 64:

     […] actinopterygians have 'ray fins' which are supported by a series of narrow cartilaginous or bony rods called radials, while sarcopterygians have 'lobe fins' supported by a single basal bone and with muscles that can modify the posture of the fin.

   • 2012, Winand Brinkmann, Kenneth De Baets, editors, Paleontological Museum of the University of Zürich: Exhibition Guide, Paleontological Institute and Museum of the University of Zürich, →ISBN, page 63:

     Many sarcopterygians have a lung as a respiratory organ.

2. (biology) Any member of the clade that contains both lobe-finned fish and tetrapods (land vertebrates).
   • 2004, M. L. J. Stiassny, E. O, Wiley, G. D. Johnson, M. R, de Carvalho, 24: Gnathostome Fishes, Joel Cracraft, Michael J. Donoghue (editors), Assembling the Tree of Life, page 415,

     All sarcopterygians are characterized by the evolutionary innovation of having the pectoral fins articulating with the shoulder girdle by a single element, known as the humerus in tetrapods.

Synonyms

• lobefin

Antonyms

• actinopterygian