therapsid science definition

An advanced type of synapsid reptile that evolved in the Permian Period. Therapsids further differentiated their dentition into nipping, biting, and crushing teeth, and (unlike diapsids) had forelimbs that were more greatly developed than hindlimbs. Therapsids include the so-called mammallike reptiles of the Permian and Triassic Periods, as well as mammals. Compare anapsid, diapsid, synapsid.