wɪð tˈeɪl flˈuːks, ɹᵻdˈuːst lˈɪm mˈʌskjʊlətʃɚ, ænd lˈɔŋ bˈoʊnz hˌɪstəlˈɑːdʒɪkli kˈɑːmpɚɹəbəl tʊ ˈʌðɚɹ ˈɑːblᵻɡˌeɪtli əkwˈæɾɪk ˈænɪməlz, ðeɪ wɜːɹ ˈɔːlmoʊst sˈɜːʔn̩li ɪŋkˈeɪpəbəl ʌv tɚɹˈɛstɹɪəl lˌoʊkəmˈoʊʃən; kəmbˈaɪnd wɪð ɐn ʌnjˈuːʒuːəli tˈɔːl hˈɪp ˈoʊpənɪŋ, æz ˈɔːlsoʊ sˈiːn ɪn ˈʌðɚɹ ˈɑːblᵻɡˌeɪtli əkwˈæɾɪk ɹˈɛptaɪlz ɪŋklˈuːdɪŋ ðə vˈɪvɪpɚɹəs kˌaɪkaʊsˈɔːɹəs, ðiːz kˈæɹɪktɚz sədʒˈɛst ðæt mˈɛtɹɪɹhˌɪntʃɪdz ɡˈeɪv lˈaɪv bˈɜːθ.
With tail flukes, reduced limb musculature, and long bones histologically comparable to other obligately aquatic animals, they were almost certainly incapable of terrestrial locomotion; combined with an unusually tall hip opening, as also seen in other obligately aquatic reptiles including the viviparous Keichousaurus, these characters suggest that metriorhynchids gave live birth.