noun
- Plural of dentary; bones forming the lower jaw in vertebrates, especially fish and reptiles.
Usage: anatomy; zoology
Examples
- The fossil showed well-preserved dentaries from an ancient fish species.
- In reptiles, the dentaries are paired bones that support the teeth.
- Paleontologists examined the dentaries to determine the creature's bite force.
- The dentaries of this dinosaur were unusually robust compared to related species.