Gnathostome
/ˈnæθəstoʊm/noun
A vertebrate animal possessing jaws, including fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
Did you know?Vertebrate jaws evolved from modified structures associated with the front gill arches of jawless fish, transforming feeding and eventually enabling the rise of land vertebrates.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ǵénu-
“A reconstructed root associated with the jaw or cheek, underlying Greek gnáthos.”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*steh₂-mn̥
“A reconstructed formation related to standing or an opening, traditionally connected with Greek stóma.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
gnáthos
“Jaw; cheek.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
stóma
“Mouth; opening.”
19th Century
New Latin
Gnathostomata
“A zoological group name meaning “jaw-mouths,” applied to vertebrates with jaws.”
Modern English
English
gnathostome
“A member of the jawed vertebrates.”
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