List of commonly used taxonomic affixes

• a-, an-: Pronunciation: /ə/, /a/, /ən/, /an/. Origin: . Meaning: a prefix used to make words with a sense opposite to that of the root word; in this case, meaning 'without' or '-less'. This is usually used to describe organisms without a certain typical characteristic, as well as organisms in which that characteristic may not be immediately obvious.
• :Examples: Anurognathus ; Apus ; Apteryx ; Pteranodon ; Anura ; Anophthalmus ; Aceros ; Agnatha ; Aceratherium ; Arrhinoceratops ; Apterodon
• -acanth, acantho-: Pronunciation: /eɪkænθ/, /eɪkænθoʊ/. Origin: . Meaning: spine, thorn.
• :Examples: Acanthodes ; Acanthostega ; coelacanth ; Acrocanthosaurus ; Acanthoderes ; Acanthamoeba ; Metriacanthosaurus ; Holacanthus ; Triacanthus ; Acanthaster ; Acanthocephala, Anisacanthus ; Acanthoceras : Acanthogeophilus ; Acanthosicyos ; Acanthophis
• aeto-: Pronunciation: /aɛto/. Origin: . Meaning: eagle.
• :Examples: Aetonyx ; Aetobatus ; Aetosauria ; Ichthyaetus
• afro-: Pronunciation: /ˈafro/. Origin:. Meaning: African.
• -ales: Pronunciation: /ˈa.lis/. Origin:. Meaning: Used to form taxonomic names of orders for plants and fungi.
• amphi-: Pronunciation: /amfiː/, /amfɪ/. Origin: . Meaning: both.
• :Examples: Amphibia ; Amphicoelias ; Amphicyon
• aniso-: Pronunciation: /əˌnaɪsə/. Origin: . Meaning: unequal.
• :Examples: Anisodon ; Anisoptera ; Polanisia, Anisacanthus
• -anthus, antho-: Pronunciation: /anθəs/, /anθoʊ/. Origin: . Meaning: flower.
• :Examples: Helianthus ; Anthophila ; Dianthus ; Anthodon
• arch-, archi-, archo-, -archon, -archus: Pronunciation: /ark/, /arkoʊ/, /arkɪ/, /arkɒn/, /arkəs/. Origin: , meaning: ruler; ἀρχικός, meaning: ruling. Used for exceptionally large or widespread animals.
• :Examples: Archelon ; Architeuthis ; Thalattoarchon ; Archosauria ; Andrewsarchus
• archaeo-: Pronunciation: /arkiːɒ/, /arkiːoʊ/. Origin: . Meaning: ancient. Used for early versions of animals and plants.
• :Examples: Archaeopteryx ; Archaeoindris ; Archaeopteris ; Archaeanthus ; Archaeopotamus
• -arctos, arcto-: Pronunciation: /arktoʊz/, /arktoʊ/. Origin: . Meaning: bear.
• :Examples: Phascolarctos ; Arctodus ; Arctocyon
• arthro-: /arθroʊ/. Origin: . Meaning: joint. Often used for animals with exoskeletons.
• :Examples: Arthrospira ; Arthropleura ; Arthropoda
• aspido-, -aspis: Pronunciation: /aspɪdoʊ/, /aspɪs/. Origin: . Meaning: shield. The suffix '-aspis' is used to describe armored fish.
• :Examples: Cephalaspis ; Sacabambaspis ; Brindabellaspis
• -aster: Pronunciation: /asˈtir/. Origin: . Meaning: star. Used to create genera relating to stars; most commonly applied to echinoderms such as sea stars and brittle stars.
• :Examples: Acanthaster ; Ophidiaster ; Heliaster ; Odontaster ; Asterozoa ; Iranoaster ; Asteroceras ; Geastrum
• -avus: Pronunciation: /avus/. Origin:. Meaning: grandfather.
• :Examples: Coelurosauravus ; Plateosauravus
• -avis: Pronunciation: /əvɪs/. Origin:. Meaning: bird.
• :Examples: Protoavis ; Argentavis ; Eoalulavis
• -bates: Pronunciation: /bætiz/. Origin:. Meaning: wanderer, one that treads.
• :Examples: Hylobates ; Dendrobates
• brachi-, brachy-: pronunciation: /brækɪ/. Origin: . Meaning: short, and the short part of the arm, or upper arm, respectively. Used in its original meaning, and also to mean 'arm'.
• :Examples: Brachylophosaurus ; Brachiosaurus ; Brachyceratops ; Brachyura ; Brachiopoda
• bronto-: Pronunciation: /brɒntoʊ/. Origin: . Meaning: thunder. Used for large animals.
• :Examples: Brontosaurus, Brontotherium, Brontoscorpio ; Brontochelys
• -canth, cantho-: see -acanth, acantho-.
• carcharo-: Pronunciation: /kərkæroʊ/. Origin: . Meaning: sharp, jagged; extended via to mean 'shark'.
• :Examples: Carcharodon, Carcharocles, Carcharodontosaurus
• -cephalus, cephalo-, -cephale, -cephalian: Pronunciation: /sɛfələs/, /sɛfəloʊ̯/, /sɛfəli:/ /sɛfeɪliːən/. Origin: . Meaning: head.
• :Examples: Sclerocephalus ; Euoplocephalus, Pachycephalosaurus, Amtocephale ; Therocephalia ; Cephalocarida ; Lagocephalus ; Pachycephala ; Acanthocephala
• -ceras, cerat-, -ceratus: Pronunciation: /sɛrəs/, /sɛrət/, /sɛrətəs/. Origin: . Meaning: horn. Used for many horned animals, but most notably ceratopsians.
• :Examples: Stegoceras ; Triceratops, Orthoceras ; Megaloceras ; Ceratosaurus ; Microceratops ; rhinoceros ; Albertoceras ; Aepyceros ; Lophoceros ; Buceros ; Dinocerata ; Cameroceras ; Endoceras ; Didymoceras ; Diceros ; Megaloceros ; Asteroceras ; Acanthoceras
• cetio-, -cetus: Pronunciation: /sɛtɪoʊ/, /siːtəs/. Origin: Ancient Greek κῆτος. Meaning: sea-monster. The suffix '-cetus' is used for whales or whale ancestors, while the prefix 'cetio-' is used for whale-like or large animals.
• :Examples: Peregocetus ; Cetiosaurus ; Ambulocetus ; Pakicetus, Perucetus ; Pachycetus ; Eocetus ; Orycterocetus
• -cheirus, chiro-: Pronunciation: /kaɪrəs/, /kaɪroʊ/. Origin: . Meaning: hand.
• :Examples: Deinocheirus ; Ornithocheirus ; Austrocheirus ; Haplocheirus ; Chiroptera ; Chiropotes
• -chelys, chelo-, -chelon: Pronunciation: /kəlɪs/, /kəlo/, /kəlon/. Origin:, χελώνη. Meaning: tortoise. Used for both tortoises and turtles.
• :Examples: Megalochelys ; Archelon ; Archelosauria
• chloro-: Pronunciation: /kloroʊ/. Origin: . Meaning: green.
• :Examples: Chlorophyta ; Chlorophyll ; Chlorospingus ; Chlorophonia
• choer-, choero-: Pronunciation: /koɪr/, /koɪroʊ/. Origin: . Meaning: pig.
• :Examples: Choeroichthys ; Choerophryne ; Choerodon ; Hydrochoerus ; Choeropotamus ; Choeropsis
• coel-: Pronunciation: /siːl/ or /sɛl/. Origin: . Meaning: hollow.
• :Examples: coelacanth ; Coelodonta ; Coelophysis ; Amphicoelias
• cyan-, cyano-: Pronunciation: /saɪæno/. Origin: . Meaning: dark blue, blue, dark blue-green.
• :Examples: Cyanocitta ; Cyanobacteria ; Cyanocorax
• cyclo-: Pronunciation: /saɪkloʊ/. Origin: . Meaning: circle.
• :Examples: Cyclomedusa ; Cyclostomata
• cyn-, -cyon: Pronunciation: /saɪn/, /saɪɒn/. Origin: . Meaning: dog. Used for dogs or dog-like creatures.
• :Examples: Cynodontia ; Cynognathus ; Cynopterus ; Arctocyon ; Procyon ; Cynocephalus ; Xenocyon ; Hesperocyon
• -dactyl, -dactylus: Pronunciation: /dæktəl/, /dæktələs/. Origin: . Meaning: finger, toe.
• :Examples: Artiodactyla ; Pterodactylus ; Perissodactyla ; Ctenodactylus ; Phyllodactylus ; Hemiphyllodactylus ; Odontodactylus ; Stenodactylus
• -deres, -dira: Origin: . Meaning: neck, collar.
• :Examples: Acanthoderes ; Cryptodira ; Pleurodira
• -derm: Pronunciation: /dɜrm/. Origin: . Meaning: animal hide. Used for skin.
• :Examples: Placodermi ; Echinodermata ; Ostracodermi ; Pachydermata
• -delphys, -delphis, delpho-: Pronunciation: /dɜlfɪs/, /dɜlfʊ/. Origin: . Meaning: womb. Used for therian mammals.
• :Examples: Sinodelphys ; Didelphis ; Didelphodon ; Delphinus ; Monodelphis
• dendro-, -dendron, -dendrum: Pronunciation: /dɛn.dɹoʊ/, /ˈdɛndɹən/, /dɛndɹəm/. Origin: . Meaning: tree.
• :Examples: Rhododendron ; Liriodendron ; Dendrocnide ; Epidendrum ; Lepidodendron ; Dendrobates ; Dendrocolaptes
• di-: Pronunciation: /daɪ/. Origin: . Meaning: twice. Used to indicate two of something.
• :Examples: Dilophosaurus ; Diceratops ; diapsid ; Didelphis ; Dichrostigma ; Diprotodon ; Diceros ; Dipus
• dino-, deino-: Pronunciation: /daɪnoʊ/. Origin: . Meaning: 'terrible', 'formidable'. Used for presumably fearfully large or dangerous animals or animal parts.
• :Examples: dinosaur, Dinofelis, Dinornis ; Deinonychus, Deinocheirus ; Dinodocus ; Deinosuchus, Dinohippus, Dinosorex ; Deinococcus ; Dinocerata
• diplo-: Pronunciation: /dɪploʊ/, /dɪplo/. Origin: . Meaning: double.
• :Examples: Diplodocus ; Diplopoda ; Diplomonad ; Diplovertebron
• -don, -, -donto-: see -odon, -odont, -odonto-.
• draco-, -draco: Pronunciation: /dreɪkoʊ/ Origin: Latin draco. Meaning: dragon.
• :Examples: Dracophyllum ; Dracocephalum ; Dracaena, Tethydraco, Phosphatodraco.
• dromaeo-, dromeo-, -dromeus: Pronunciation: /droʊmɪoʊ/, /droʊmɪəs/ Origin: . Meaning: runner.
• :Examples: Dromaeosaurus ; Kulindadromeus ; Thalassodromeus ; Eodromaeus ; Oryctodromeus
• elasmo-: Pronunciation: /əl:æzːmoʊ/. Origin: . Meaning: plate.
• :Examples: Elasmobranchii ; Elasmosaurus ; Elasmotherium
• -ensis, -ense: Meaning: living in; originating from
• :Examples: Saimiri boliviensis ; Myotis chiloensis ; Anomalocaris canadensis
• eo-: Pronunciation: /iːoʊ̯/. Origin: . Meaning: dawn. Used for very early appearances of animals in the fossil record.
• :Examples: Eohippus ; Eomaia ; Eoraptor ; Eolactoria ; Eotyrannus ; Eocetus
• -erpeton: Pronunciation: /ɜrpətɒn/. Origin: . Meaning: reptile ; used for amphibians.
• :Examples: Hynerpeton ; Greererpeton ; Arizonerpeton ; Albanerpeton
• eu-: Pronunciation: /iːu̟/. Origin: . Meaning: 'good', 'well'; also extended via Neo-Latin to mean 'true'. Used in a variety of ways, often to indicate well-preserved specimens, well-developed bones, 'truer' examples of fossil forms, or simply admiration on the part of the discoverer.
• :Examples: Euparkeria ; Euhelopus ; Eustreptospondylus ; Eucoelophysis ; Eubrachyura ; Eumillipes ; Euphonia ; Eudyptes
• -felis: Pronunciation: /fiːlɪs/. Origin:. Meaning: cat. Felis alone is the genus name for the group that includes the domestic cat.
• :Examples: Dinofelis ; Eofelis ; Pardofelis
• -form, -formes: Pronunciation: /foʊrm/, /foʊrms/. Origin:. Meaning: shape, form. Used for large groups of animals that share similar characteristics; also used in names of bird and fish orders.
• :Examples: Galliformes ; Anseriformes ; Squaliformes ; Tetraodontiformes ; Macropodiformes ; Octopodiformes ; Vombatiformes ; Caniformia ; Feliformia ; Scarabaeiformia ; Bucerotiformes ; Elephantiformes ; Lemuriformes ; Mammaliaformes ; Decapodiformes ; Psittaciformes ; Coelacanthiformes ; Thylacosmiliformes ; Cucujiformia ; Struthioniformes
• giga-, gigant-, giganto-: Pronunciation: /gi:gə/, /d͡ʒaɪgænt/, /d͡ʒaɪgæntoʊ/. Origin: . Meaning: giant, of a giant, respectively. Used for large species.
• :Examples: Giganotosaurus ; Gigantopithecus ; Gigantoraptor ; Gigantopterus ; Gigantspinosaurus
• -gnath-, gnatho-, -gnathus: Pronunciation: /neɪθ/, /neɪθoʊ/, /neɪθəs/. Origin: . Meaning: jaw.
• :Examples: Caenagnathasia ; Gnathostoma ; Cynognathus ; Compsognathus ; Gnathosaurus ; Gnathostomata ; Entognatha ; Oedignathus ; Agnatha ; Anurognathus
• haplo-: Pronunciation: /hæplə/. Origin: . Meaning: simple.
• :Examples: Haplorhini ; Haplocheirus
• hemi-: Pronunciation: /hɛmi/. Origin: . Meaning: half.
• :Examples: Hemicyon ; Hemichordata ; Hemiptera ; Hemispingus ; Hemiphyllodactylus
• hespero-: Pronunciation: /hɛspəroʊ/. Origin: . Meaning: western.
• :Examples: Hesperornis ; Hesperocyon ; Hesperosaurus
• hippus, hippo-: Pronunciation: /hɪpəs/, /hɪpoʊ/. Origin: . Meaning: horse.
• :Examples: Eohippus ; Hippodraco ; Hippopotamus ; Hippocampus ; Hippophae ; Merychippus
• hyl-, hylo-: Pronunciation: /haɪl/, /haɪloʊ/. Origin: . Meaning: wood, forest.
• :Examples: Hylonomus ; Hylobates ; Hylarana
• -ia: Pronunciation: /iːə/. Origin: . Meaning: an abstraction usually used as an honorific for a person or place.
• :Examples: Dickinsonia ; Cooksonia ; Coloradia ; Edmontonia ; Thomashuxleya ; Superstitionia ; Bolivaria ; Macadamia ; Pikaia ; Leanchoilia ; Opabinia
• ichthyo-, -ichthys: Pronunciation: /ɪkθioʊs/, /ɪkθis/. Origin: . Meaning: fish. The suffix '-ichthys' is used for fish, while the prefix 'ichthyo-', while used for fish, is also used for fish-like creatures.
• :Examples: Ichthyosauria ; Leedsichthys ; Haikouichthys ; Ichthyostega ; Osteichthyes ; Chondrichthyes ; Tripodichthys ; Choeroichthys ; Trachichthys ; Ichthyotitan ; Ichthyaetus ; Ichthyolestes ; Ichthyophaga
• -lania, Pronunciation: /læniːə/, Origin: : Meaning: to wander. Used for animals that are found in most places around continents.
• :Examples: Meiolania ; Megalania
• leo-: Pronunciation: /lɛʊ/. Origin: : Meaning: lion.
• :Examples: Leopardus ; Leontopodium ; Leontopithecus ; Myrmeleon ; chameleon
• lio-: Pronunciation: /liː.oː/. Origin: : Meaning: Make smooth
• :Examples: Liogramma ; Liopleurodon
• -lepis, lepido-: Pronunciation: /lɛpɪs/ /lɛpɪdoʊ/. Origin: . Meaning: scale.
• :Examples: Mongolepis ; Stagonolepis ; Polymerolepis ; Lepidosauria ; Lepidoptera ; Lepidodendron
• -lestes: Pronunciation: /lɛstiːz/. Origin: . Meaning: robber.
• :Examples: Carpolestes ; Ornitholestes ; Sarcolestes ; Necrolestes ; Ichthyolestes
• long: Pronunciation: /lʊng/. Origin: t=龍. Meaning: dragon. Used for dinosaur finds in China.
• :Examples: Mei long ; Bolong ; Zuolong ; Shaochilong
• -lopho-, -lophus: Pronunciation: /lɒfoʊ/, /ləfəs/. Origin: . Meaning: A bird's crest. Used for animals with crests on their heads.
• :Examples: Dilophosaurus ; Brachylophosaurus ; Saurolophus ; Teinolophos ; Lophoceros
• lyco-: Pronunciation: /lɪkoʊ/. Origin: . Meaning: wolf.
• :Examples: Lycopodium ; Lycodon ; Lycoperdon
• macro-: Pronunciation: /mækroʊ/. Origin: . Meaning: long; large.
• :Examples: macropod ; Macrodontophion ; Macrogryphosaurus
• -maia, maia-: Pronunciation: /meiə/ Origin: . Meaning: Originally the mother of Hermes in Greek mythology and the goddess of growth in Roman mythology, alternatively spelled Maja. Frequently used to indicate maternal roles, this word should not be construed as translating directly to 'mother' ; aside from being a proper name, in Ancient Greek 'maîa' can translate to 'midwife' or 'foster mother' and was used as an honorific address for older women, typically translated into English as 'Good Mother'.
• :Examples: Maiasaura ; Eomaia ; Juramaia ; Maiacetus
• mega-, megalo-: Pronunciation: /mɛga/, /mɛgaloʊ̯/. Origin: . Meaning: big/great.
• :Examples: Megarachne ; Megalosaurus ; megalodon ; Megaloceros
• micro-: Pronunciation: /maɪkroʊ̯/. Origin: . Meaning: 'small'.
• :Examples: Microraptor ; Microvenator ; Microceratops
• mimo-, -mimus: /maɪmoʊ̯/, /maɪməs/. Origin:. Meaning: actor. Used for creatures that resemble others.
• :Examples: Struthiomimus; ; Ornithomimus ; Gallimimus ; Ornithomimosauria
• -monas, -monad: Pronunciation: /moʊnas/, /monas/, /moʊnad/, /monad/. Origin: . Meaning: unit. Used for single-celled organisms.
• :Examples: Chlamydomonas ; Pseudomonas ; Metamonad
• -morph: Pronunciation: /moʊrf/. Origin: . Meaning: form, shape. Used for large groups of animals which share a common genetic lineage
• :Examples: Crocodylomorpha ; Sauropodomorpha ; Muscomorpha ; Dimorphodon ; Didelphimorphia ; Hystricomorpha ; Lagomorpha ; Batomorphi ; Squalomorphi ; Dasyuromorphia ; Scolopendromorpha ; Lithobiomorpha ; Geophilomorpha
• -nax, -anax-: Pronunciation: /nax/, /ænax/. Origin: . Meaning: king.
• :Examples: Lythronax ; Saurophaganax
• -noto-: Pronunciation: /notoʊ/. Origin:. Meaning: south, southern wind. Used for organisms found in the Southern Hemisphere.
• :Examples: Giganotosaurus ; Notosuchus ; Notopalaeognathae
• -nych, nycho-, -nyx: see -onych, onycho-, -onyx.
• -odon, -odont, -odonto-, -odus: Pronunciation: /oʊdɒn/, /oʊdɒnt/, /oʊdɒntoʊ/, /oʊdəs/. Origin: . Meaning: tooth, of a tooth, respectively.
• :Examples: Dimetrodon, cynodont ; Carcharodontosaurus, Otodus, Arctodus ; Tetraodon ; Octodon ; Anisodon ; Monodon ; Hexaprotodon ; Diprotodontia ; Odontodactylus ; Anthodon ; Thrinaxodon ; Zanclodon ; Xiphodon ; Solenodon
• -oides, -odes: Pronunciation: /oiːdiːz/, /oʊːdiːz/. Origin: . Meaning: likeness. Used for species that resemble other species.
• :Examples: Hypocnemoides ; Aetobarbakinoides ; Callianthemoides ; Argyrodes
• onycho-, -onychus, -onyx: /ɒnikoʊ/, /ɒnikəs/, /ɒniks/. Origin: . Meaning: claw.
• :Examples: Deinonychus ; Euronychodon ; Nothronychus, Baryonyx
• ophi-: Pronunciation: /ɒfɪs/. Origin: . Meaning: snake. Used for Ophidia or snake-like animals.
• :Examples: Ophiacodon ; Ophisaurus ; Ophiopogon ; Ophiuroidea ; Ophidiaster ; Ophioglossum
• -ops: Pronunciation: /ɒps/. Origin: . Meaning: face, eye.
• :Examples: Triceratops ; Lycaenops ; Moschops ; Spinops ; Triops ; Brachyceratops
• -ornis, ornith-, ornitho-: Pronunciation: /oʊ̯rnɪs/, /oʊ̯rnɪθ/, /oʊ̯rnɪθoʊ̯/. Origin: . Meaning: bird, of a bird respectively. 'ornith-' and 'ornitho-' are generally used for animals with birdlike characteristics; the suffix '-ornis' is generally applied to fossil bird species.
• :Examples: Ornithischia ; Ornithocheirus ; Eoconfuciusornis ; Ornithorhynchus ; Ornithopoda ; Ornithoptera ; Ornitholestes
• orth-, ortho-: Pronunciation: /oʊ̯rθ/, /oʊ̯rθoʊ̯/. Origin: . Meaning: straight.
• :Examples: Orthocone ; Orthoceras ; Orthacanthus ; Orthopus
• oryctero-, orycto-: Pronunciation: /ohr-ik-ter-oh/, /ohr-ik-toh/. Origin: . Meaning: burrower.
• :Examples: Oryctodromeus ; Oryctolagus ; Orycteropus ; Oryctorhynchus ; Oryctocephalus ; Orycterocetus
• pachy-: Pronunciation: /pæki/ Origin: . Meaning: thick.
• :Examples: Pachycephalosaurus ; Pachylemur ; Pachyuromys ; Pachydermata ; Pachycetus ; Pachypodium ; Pachypanthera
• para-: Pronunciation: /pærɑː/ Origin: . Meaning: near. Used for species that resemble previously named species.
• :Examples: Paranthodon ; Pararhabdodon ; Parasaurolophus ; Paraceratherium ; Parameles
• -pelta: Pronunciation: /pɛltə:/ Origin: . Meaning: shield. Frequently used for ankylosaurs.
• :Examples: Sauropelta ; Dracopelta ; Cedarpelta
• -phagus, -phagan-: Pronunciation: /feɪgəs/, /feɪgən/. Origin: . Meaning: eater, eating, glutton. Used for organisms perceived as eating a particular type of thing.
• :Examples: Saurophaganax ; Ophiophagus ; Myrmecophaga ; Oophaga ; Musophaga ; Meliphaga ; Polyphaga ; Phytophaga ; Myxophaga ; Ichthyophaga
• -philus, -phila, philo-: Pronunciation: /fiːləs/, /fiːlə/, /fiːloʊ/. Origin: . Meaning: dear, beloved, loving. Used for organisms perceived as having a fondness for a particular thing.
• :Examples: Sarcophilus ; Drosophila ; Anthophila ; Philodendron ; Geophilus ; Cnemophilus ; Spermophilus
• -phyton, -phyta, phyto-, -phyte: Pronunciation: /faɪtən/, /faitə/, /faɪtoʊ/, /faɪt/. Origin: . Meaning: plant.
• :Examples: Spermatophyte ; Rhyniophyte ; Phytophthora ; Phytolacca ; Chlorophyta
• -pithecus, pitheco-: Pronunciation: /piθəkəs/, /piθəkoʊ/, //piθəkə/. Origin: . Meaning: ape, monkey.
• :Examples: Australopithecus ; Ardipithecus ; Gigantopithecus ; Leontopithecus ; Pithecellobium ; Rhinopithecus
• platy-: Pronunciation: /ˈplætɪ/. Origin: Ancient Greek πλατύς. Meaning: flat. Used for creatures that are flat or have flat parts.
• :Examples: Platyhelminthes ; Platybelodon ; Platycodon ; Platypus ; Uroplatus
• plesio-, plesi-: Pronunciation: /pliːziːoʊ/, /pliːz/. Origin: Ancient Greek πλησίον. Meaning: near. Used for species that bear similarities to other species.
• :Examples: Plesiosaurus ; Plesiorycteropus ; Plesiobaena ; Plesiadapis
• -pod, podo-, -pus: Pronunciation: /pɒd/, /pɒdoʊ/, /pʊs/. Origin: Ancient Greek πούς, ποδός. Meaning: foot, of the foot, respectively.
• :Examples: Ornithopoda ; Brachypodosaurus ; Moropus and Bradypus ; Octopus ; Platypus ; Orycteropus ; Decapoda ; Gastropoda ; Hexapoda ; Erectopus ; Orthopus ; Tylopoda ; Onychopoda ; Cephalopoda ; Ailuropoda ; Hymenopus ; Uropoda
• -prion: Pronunciation: /prɪɒn/. Origin: Ancient Greek πριὢν. Meaning: saw.
• : Examples: Helicoprion ; Ornithoprion ; Onychoprion ; Suchoprion. Prions are a subfamily of saw-beaked petrels.
• pro-, protero-: pronunciation: /proʊ̯/, /proʊ̯tεroʊ̯/. Origin: Ancient Greek πρό, πρότερος. Meaning: before. Usually used for ancestral forms.
• :Examples: Proterosuchus ; Procompsognathus ; Prosaurolophus ; Proteroctopus
• proto-: Pronunciation: /proʊtoʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek πρῶτος. Meaning: first. Used for early appearances in the fossil record.
• :Examples: Protoceratops ; Protognathosaurus ; Protohadros
• psittaco-, -psitta: Pronunciation: /sitɑːkoʊ/, /psitə/. Origin: Ancient Greek ψιττακός. Meaning: parrot. 'Psittaco-' is used for parrot-like creatures, while the suffix 'psitta' is used for parrots.
• :Examples: Psittacosaurus ; Cyclopsitta ; Xenopsitta ; Psittaciformes
• pter-, ptero-, -pterus, pteryg-, -ptera, -pteryx. Pronunciation: /ter/, /teroʊ/, /pterəs/, /terɪg/, /pterə/, /pterɪx/. Origin: Ancient Greek πτέρυξ, πτέρυγος. Meaning: wing, of a wing, respectively. Used for many winged creatures, but also expanded to mean 'fin', and used for many undersea arthropods. The suffix '-ptera' is also used in orders of winged insects.
• :Examples: Brachypterygius ; Brachyptera ; Pteranodon ; Pterodactylus ; Eurypterus ; Pterygotus ; Coleoptera ; Camaroptera ; Archaeopteryx ; Stenopterygius ; Lepidoptera ; Chiroptera ; Dermoptera ; Raphidioptera ; Rhomboptera ; Orthoptera ; Mecoptera ; Delphinapterus ; Megaloptera ; Megaptera ; Neopterygii ; Titanoptera ; Sarcopterygii ; Actinopterygii ; Neuroptera
• -pus: see -pod, -podo-, -pus.
• -raptor, raptor-: Pronunciation: /ræptər/. Origin: Latin raptor. Meaning: 'robber, thief'. Frequently used for dromaeosaurids or similar animals. The term 'raptor' by itself may also be used for a dromeosaurid, a Velociraptor, or originally, a bird of prey.
• :Examples: Velociraptor ; Utahraptor ; Raptorex
• -rex: Pronunciation: /rεks/. Origin: Latin rex. Meaning: king. Often used for large or impressive animals.
• :Examples: Raptorex ; Dracorex ; Tyrannosaurus rex
• -rhina, rhino-, -rhinus: Pronunciation: /raɪnə/ /raɪnoʊ̯/, /raɪnəs/. Origin: Ancient Greek ῥίς. Meaning: nose.
• :Examples: Altirhinus ; Pachyrhinosaurus ; Lycorhinus ; Arrhinoceratops ; Cretoxyrhina ; Rhinoceros ; Burhinus ; Rhinopithecus ; Pachyrhinus
• rhodo-: Pronunciation: /roʊdoʊ/, /rodoʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek ῥόδον. Meaning: 'rose'. Used for red-colored or otherwise rose-like organisms.
• :Examples: Rhododendron ; Rhodophyta ; Rhodomonas
• rhyncho-, -rhynchus: Pronunciation: /rɪnkoʊ/, /rɪnkəs/. Origin: Ancient Greek ῥύγχος. Meaning: 'beak', 'snout'.
• :Examples: Rhamphorhynchus ; Aspidorhynchus ; Ornithorhynchus ; Rhynchosauria ; Rhynchocephalia ; Oncorhynchus ; Scaphirhynchus ; Oryctorhynchus ; Thalattorhynchus ; Xiphorhynchus ; Kinorhyncha
• sarco-: Pronunciation: /sɑːrkʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek σάρξ. Meaning: flesh. Used for flesh-eating animals or animals and plants with fleshy parts
• :Examples: Sarcophilus ; Sarcopterygii ; Sarcosuchus
• saur, sauro-, -saurus, -saura: Pronunciation: /sɔər/, /sɔəroʊ/, /sɔərəs/, /sɔəra/. Origin: Ancient Greek σαῦρος. Meaning: lizard. Used for dinosaurs and other extinct reptiles.
• :Examples: Dinosaur ; Mosasaur, Tyrannosaurus, Allosaurus, Sauroposeidon, Maiasaura, Bonitasaura, Pleurosaurus ; Chlamydosaurus
• sin-, sino-: Pronunciation; /sɪn/, /saɪnoʊ̯/. Origin:. Meaning: from China.
• :Examples: Sinornithosaurus; ; Sinosauropteryx ; Sinoceratops ; Sinraptor ; Sinomammut
• smilo-, -smilus: Pronunciation: /smaɪloʊ/, /smaɪləs/. Origin: Ancient Greek σμίλη. Meaning: a carving knife or chisel. Used for animals with sabre teeth.
• :Examples: Smilodon ; Smilosuchus ; Thylacosmilus ; Xenosmilus
• spino-, -spino-, -spinax, -spinus: Pronunciation: /spaɪnə/, /spaɪnæks/, /spaɪnəs/. Origin:. Meaning: a thorn, a spine.
• :Examples: Altispinax ; Gigantspinosaurus ; Iberospinus ; Spinops ; Spinosaurus
• -spondylus: Pronunciation: /spɒndələs/. Origin: Ancient Greek σπόνδυλος. Meaning: vertebra.
• :Examples: Streptospondylus ; Massospondylus ; Bothriospondylus
• squali-, squalo-: Pronunciation: /skweɪlɪ/, /skweɪloʊ/. Origin: Latin squalus. Meaning: a kind of sea fish. Used for shark-like creatures.
• :Examples: Squalodon ; Squaliformes ; Squalicorax ; Squalomorphi
• stego-, -stega: Pronunciation: /stɛgoʊ/, /stɛgə/. Origin: Ancient Greek στέγη. Meaning: roof. Used for armoured or plated animals.
• :Examples: Stegosaurus ; Ichthyostega ; Acanthostega
• strepto-: Pronunciation: /streptoʊ/, /strepto/. Origin: Ancient Greek στρεπτός. Meaning: twisted, bent.
• :Examples: Streptophyta ; Streptococcus ; Streptospondylus ; Streptomyces ; Streptocarpus
• -stoma, -stome, -stomus: Pronunciation: /stoʊma/, /stoʊm/, /stoʊməs/. Origin: Ancient Greek στόμα. Meaning: mouth.
• :Examples: Deuterostomia ; Gnathostoma ; Anastomus ; Cyclostomi ; Aulostomus
• sucho-, -suchus: Pronunciation: /sjuːkoʊ/, /sjuːkəs/. Origin: Ancient Greek σούχος. Meaning:: Originally the Ancient Greek name for the Ancient Egyptian crocodile-headed god, Sobek. Used to denote crocodilians or crocodile-like animals.
• :Examples: Deinosuchus ; Anatosuchus ; Suchomimus ; Sarcosuchus ; Thalattosuchus ; Pseudosuchia
• tauro-: /taərəs/. Origin:. Meaning: bull.
• :Examples: Taurotragus ; Taurovenator ; Carnotaurus
• -teuthis: Pronunciation: /tjuːθɪs/. Origin: Ancient Greek τευθίς. Meaning: squid. Used for squids and similar cephalopods.
• :Examples: Gonioteuthis ; Architeuthis ; Vampyroteuthis ; Cylindroteuthis ; Opisthoteuthis
• thalatto-. Pronunciation: /θəlatoʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek θᾰ́λᾰττᾰ . Meaning: sea.
• :Examples: Thalattosaurus ; Thalattoarchon ; Thalattosuchus ; Thalattorhynchus
• thero-, -therium. Pronunciation: /θɛroʊ/, /θiːrɪəm/. Origin: Ancient Greek θηρίον. Meaning: beast. Used for supposedly monstrous animals. The suffix '-therium' is often used to denote extinct mammals.
• :Examples: Theropoda, Deinotherium ; Megatherium ; Brontotherium ; Uintatherium ; Anthracotherium ; Nototherium ; Arsinoitherium ; Elasmotherium ; Chalicotherium ; Paraceratherium ; Aceratherium ; Ceratotherium ; Boreoeutheria ; Pyrotherium
• thylac-: Pronunciation: /θaɪlæk/. Origin: Ancient Greek θύλακος. Meaning: a sack. In the sense of 'pouch', used for marsupials.
• :Examples: Thylacine ; Thylacoleo ; Thylacosmilus ; Thylacocephala
• tri-: Pronunciation: /traɪ/. Origin: Ancient Greek τρία. Meaning: three.
• :Examples: Triceratops ; Triconodon ; Trilobita ; Triops ; Triacanthus ; Trilobozoa
• titano-, -titan: Pronunciation: /taɪtænoʊ/, /taɪtən/. Origin: Ancient Greek Τιτάν, Τιτᾶνος. Meaning: Titan, of the Titan, respectively. Used for large animals.
• :Examples: Titanosaurus ; Giraffatitan ; Anatotitan ; Titanotherium ; Titanoboa ; Titanomyrma ; Titanoceratops ; Titanoptera ; Ichthyotitan
• tyranno-, -tyrannus: Pronunciation: /taɪrænoʊ/, /taɪrænəs/. Origin: Ancient Greek τύραννος. Meaning: tyrant. Used for animals similar to Tyrannosaurus.
• :Examples: Zhuchengtyrannus ; Tyrannosaurus ; Nanotyrannus ; Tyrannotitan ; Sinotyrannus ; Suskityrannus ; Eotyrannus
• -urus, -uro-: Pronunciation: /uːrəs/, /uːroʊ/. Origin: . Meaning: tail.
• :Examples: Dasyurus ; Coelurosauria ; Uromastyx ; Ophiura ; Anurognathus ; Brachyura ; Anura ; Uroplatus ; Urodela ; Xiphosura ; Uropoda
• veloci-: Pronunciation: /vəlɑsɪ/. Origin: Latin velox. Meaning: speed.
• :Example: Velociraptor ; Velocisaurus
• -venator: Pronunciation: /vɛnətər/. Origin: Latin venator. Meaning: hunter.
• :Examples: Afrovenator ; Juravenator ; Scorpiovenator ; Neovenator ; Concavenator ; Taurovenator ; Ichthyovenator
• xeno-: Pronunciation: /zinoʊ/. Origin: Ancient Greek ξένος. Meaning: strange, stranger. Used for organisms that exhibit unusual traits for their class.
• :Examples: Xenosmilus ; Xenotarsosaurus ; Xenopsitta ; Xenocyon ; Xenokeryx ; Xenostega ; Xenozancla ; Xenodermus ; Xenopus ; Xenops ; Xenophthalmus
• -zoon, -zoa: Pronunciation: /zoʊɑːn/, /zoʊə/. Origin: Ancient Greek ζῷον. Meaning: animal. Used for broad categories of animals, or in certain names of animals.
• :Examples: Metazoa ; Parazoa ; Ecdysozoa ; Yunnanozoon ; Yuyuanozoon'' ; Hydrozoa ; Spermatozoon ; Echinozoa ; Asterozoa ; Trilobozoa ; Placozoa ; Amoebozoa