temnospondyl

 
Pronunciation: /ˌtɛmnə(ʊ)ˈspɒndɪl/

noun

  • a fossil amphibian of a large group that was dominant from the Carboniferous to the Triassic.
    • Order (or grade) Temnospondyli: many families

Origin:

early 20th century: from modern Latin Temnospondyli (plural), from Greek temnein 'to cut' + spondulos 'vertebra'