Definition

Noun: 1. A genus of large carnivorous dinosaurs: "Genus Allosaurus" refers to a specific scientific classification (genus) for a group of related, bipedal, meat-eating dinosaurs that lived in North America during the Late Jurassic period. It is the type genus for the family Allosauridae.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The fossil was identified as belonging to the genus Allosaurus.
  • Paleontologists study the differences between genus Allosaurus and other theropod genera.
  • Allosaurus fragilis is the best-known species within the genus Allosaurus.

Advanced Usage

• In taxonomic hierarchy: The term is used in formal scientific writing to specify the genus level of classification for these dinosaurs, distinct from their family (Allosauridae) or species (e.g., ).
  • The new discovery prompted a review of the phylogenetic relationships within the genus Allosaurus.

Variants and Related Words

• Allosaurus (n): The common name for dinosaurs of this genus. While "genus Allosaurus" refers to the taxonomic group, "Allosaurus" alone typically refers to the animals themselves.
  • An Allosaurus skeleton is on display at the museum.
• Allosaurid (n/adj): A member of the family Allosauridae, which includes and its close relatives.
• Theropod (n): The larger suborder of bipedal, mostly carnivorous dinosaurs that includes .

Synonyms

• Allosaur (n): A less common synonym for an individual dinosaur of this genus.

Notes on Meaning

The term "genus Allosaurus" has a precise, singular meaning in scientific nomenclature. It does not refer to a single dinosaur but to the entire genus category containing multiple species. The reference context provided ("carnivorous dinosaur of North America; late Jurassic") describes a representative member of the genus rather than the taxonomic category itself.

Noun

1. carnivorous dinosaur of North America; late Jurassic