Basilosaurus
noun
a large primitive marine cetacean (Basilosaurus cetoides) of the Eocene epoch, with a long serpentlike body, distinctive teeth, and hind limbs
Examples
Basilosaurus skeletons are very well preserved and quite common in some places in Egypt and the USA, showing that they grew up to about 18m long.
Word Origin
Latin basileus ‘king’ + -sauros ‘lizard’
Usage Note
science
Historical Examples
The Alabama doctors declared it a huge reptile, and bestowed upon it the name of basilosaurus.
Moby Dick; or The Whale Herman Melville
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