protylopus

/prɒtɪˈlɒpəs/

Definitions

1. noun

An extinct genus of early horse-like mammals of the Eocene epoch.

“The discovery of the protolopus in the fossil record helped scientists understand the evolution of horses.”

2. noun

A hypothetical ancestor of a particular group of animals.

“The protolopus of the dolphin family is still a subject of ongoing research.”

Synonyms

  • ancestress
  • forebear

Antonyms

  • descendant
  • offspring