Igama elithi "Nothosauria" libhekisela eqenjini lezilwane ezihuquzelayo zasolwandle ezingasekho ezaziphila ngesikhathi se-Mesozoic, ikakhulukazi phakathi nenkathi ye-Triassic. Zazibonakala ngezintamo zazo ezinde, imizimba yazo eqondile, nezitho ezinjengezigwedlo, futhi cishe zazidla izinhlanzi nezinye izilwane ezincane zasemanzini. Igama elithi "Nothosauria" livela kwelesiGrikhi elithi "nothos," elisho "amanga," nelithi "sauros," okusho ukuthi "isibankwa," okubonisa ukuthi ekuqaleni kwakucatshangwa ukuthi bangamalungu omndeni wezibankwa kodwa kamuva baqashelwa njengesilwane. iqembu elihlukile lezilwane ezihuquzelayo.