Definition

Noun: - A taxonomic suborder of herbivorous, bipedal or quadrupedal ornithischian dinosaurs: This suborder is characterized by distinctive skull features, notably a bony shelf or frill at the back of the skull. It includes two major groups: the bone-headed dinosaurs (pachycephalosaurs) and the horned dinosaurs (ceratopsians).

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The suborder Marginocephalia is defined by the presence of a marginal shelf of bone on the back of the skull.
  • Paleontologists study fossils to understand the evolution within suborder Marginocephalia.
  • Triceratops, a well-known ceratopsian, belongs to the suborder Marginocephalia.

Advanced Usage

• In taxonomic classification: The term is used in scientific literature to categorize and discuss the shared derived characteristics (synapomorphies) of these dinosaur groups.
  • The phylogenetic analysis confirmed the monophyly of the suborder Marginocephalia.

Variants and Related Words

• Marginocephalian (n/adjective): A member of the suborder Marginocephalia, or pertaining to it.
  • Pachycephalosaurus is a marginocephalian dinosaur.
• Ceratopsia (n): An infraorder within Marginocephalia, the horned dinosaurs.
• Pachycephalosauria (n): An infraorder within Marginocephalia, the bone-headed or dome-headed dinosaurs.

Synonyms

• Marginocephalians: Often used as a common name for members of this suborder.
• (No direct common-language synonym): This is a precise scientific taxonomic term.

Related Phrases/Concepts

• Ornithischian dinosaurs: The larger order to which Marginocephalia belongs.
• Skull frill: A key characteristic of many marginocephalians, especially ceratopsians.
• Herbivorous diet: A trait shared by all members of this suborder.

Noun

1. includes boneheaded (pachycephalosaurs) and horned (ceratopsian) dinosaurs