Rhynchocephala

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Rhynchocephala \Rhyn`cho*ceph"a*la\, n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr.
     "ry`gchos snout + kefalh` head.] (Zool.)
     An order of reptiles having biconcave vertebrae, immovable
     quadrate bones, and many other peculiar osteological
     characters. Hatteria is the only living genus, but numerous
     fossil genera are known, some of which are among the earliest


     of reptiles. See {Hatteria}. Called also {Rhynchocephalia}.
     [1913 Webster]