Question

saur

the morpheme saur means \lizard.\

note: most dinosaurs whose names end in saur have an o before the saur to make the name easier to say. example: apatosaur.

1. the word dinosaur literally means \monster lizard.\ it comes from the greek roots dino meaning \monstrous\ and sauras meaning \lizard.\

below are the names of some real dinosaurs. look at the hints in the middle column, then match each word with its literal meaning. write the correct letter in each blank.

name of dinosaur
a. carnosaur
b. brachiosaur
c. stegosaur
d. megalosaur

hint
carnivore
brachiopod means \arm-footed\
many plates on top
megalo

literal meaning
roofed _______
arm _______
great _______
meat-eater _______

1. if the dinosaur name pachycephalosaur comes from the morphemes pachy meaning \thick\ and cephal meaning \headed,\ then why were elephants named pachyderms?

1. there is a family of dinosaurs called pterosaurs. ptero means \winged.\ what does the dinosaur name pterodactyl literally mean? (hint: see the page for the poly morpheme.)

1. write the morphemes that make up the name triceratops.

_______ means \three\
_______ means \horns\
_______ means \face\

Explanation:

Analyze the matching section

For Question 1, we match the dinosaur names to their literal meanings using the provided hints:

• carnosaur: The hint is "carnivore" (meat-eater). Thus, its literal meaning is "meat-eater" (matching letter a).
• brachiosaur: The hint is "brachiopod means 'arm-footed'". Thus, "brachio" relates to "arm" (matching letter b).
• stegosaur: The hint is "many plates on top" (roofed). Thus, its literal meaning is "roofed" (matching letter c).
• megalosaur: The hint is "megalo" (great/large). Thus, its literal meaning is "great" (matching letter d).

Analyze the pachyderm question

For Question 2, we analyze the morphemes:

• pachy means "thick".
• derm comes from the Greek root for "skin" (as in dermatology).
• Therefore, elephants are named pachyderms because they have "thick skin".

Analyze the pterodactyl question

For Question 3, we analyze the morphemes:

• ptero means "winged".
• dactyl comes from the Greek root daktylos, which means "finger" or "toe".
• Therefore, pterodactyl literally means "winged finger".

Analyze the triceratops morphemes

For Question 4, we break down the name triceratops:

• tri means "three".
• cerat (or keras) means "horns".
• ops means "face".

Answer:

Question 1

Below are the names of some real dinosaurs. Look at the hints in the middle column, then match each word with its literal meaning. Write the correct letter in each blank.

• roofed <blank>c</blank>
• arm <blank>b</blank>
• great <blank>d</blank>
• meat-eater <blank>a</blank>

Question 2

If the dinosaur name pachycephalosaur comes from the morphemes pachy meaning "thick" and cephal meaning "headed," then why were elephants named pachyderms?
<blank>Elephants were named pachyderms because "pachy" means "thick" and "derm" means "skin," so the word literally means "thick-skinned."</blank>

Question 3

There is a family of dinosaurs called pterosaurs. Ptero means "winged." What does the dinosaur name pterodactyl literally mean?
<blank>winged finger</blank>

Question 4

Write the morphemes that make up the name triceratops.

• <blank>tri</blank> means "three"
• <blank>cerat</blank> means "horns"
• <blank>ops</blank> means "face"