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Pamizinsaurus
''Pamizinisaurus'' is a genus of sphenodontian reptile known from Lower Cretaceous (Albian) Tlayúa Formation of Mexico. A crushed skeleton of a juvenile reptile was found in Tlayua Quarry, in central Mexico. It was named ''Pamizinsaurus tlayuaensis'' by Reynoso in 1997, after the name of the quarry of which it was found. Its skull length is . The fossil was covered in small round osteoderms that could have protected it from predators. Relatives Reynoso (1997) argued that ''Pamizinsaurus'' was a genus of the subfamily Sphenodontinae; grouping it with the modern ''Sphenodon'' (better known as the ''Tuatara''), '' Zapatadon'', '' Cynosphenodon'', ''Homoeosaurus'', ''Sapheosaurus'', and ''Ankylosphenodon ''Ankylosphenodon'' is an extinct species of sphenodontian known from Tepexi de Rodriguez, Mexico. It is known from Early Cretaceous sedimentary deposits from the Tlayua formation. Lifestyle ''Ankylosphenodon'' is thought to have been an aqu ...''. References External ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tlayúa Formation
The Tlayúa Formation is an Early Cretaceous (late Albian) geological formation near Tepexi de Rodríguez (municipality), Tepexi de Rodríguez, Puebla. Paleobiota The formation contains a diverse array of vertebrate and invertebrate fossils. About 70% of the macrofossils are osteichthyan fish. Other vertebrates include Turtle, chelonians, pterosaurs, lepidosaurs, and crocodiles. Cyanobacteria, foraminifera, algae, gymnosperms, sponges, cnidarians, annelids, gastropods, ammonites, bivalves, arachnids, insects, isopods, anomurans, brachyurans, crinoids, echinoids, holothuroidea, holothuroids, stelleroidea, stelleroids, and ophiuroids, have also been recovered from the Tlayúa Formation. Lepidosaurs ;Other fossils * ''Archaeoniscus, Archaeoniscus aranguthyorum'' * ''Axelrodichthys, Axelrodichthys cf. araripensis'' * ''Ophiactis, Ophiactis applegatei'' * ''Paleopentacta, Paleopentacta alencasterae'' * ''Parapsolus, Parapsolus tlayuensis'' * ''Protaegla, Protaegla miniscula'' * ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sphenodontinae
Sphenodontidae is a family within the reptile group Rhynchocephalia, comprising taxa most closely related to the living tuatara of the genus ''Sphenodon''. Historically the taxa included within Sphenodontidae have varied greatly between analyses, and the group has lacked a formal definition. ''Cynosphenodon'' from the Early Jurassic of Mexico has consistently been recovered as a close relative of the tuatara in most analyses, with the clade containing the two often called Sphenodontinae. The herbivorous Eilenodontinae, otherwise considered part of Opisthodontia, is also sometimes considered part of this family as the sister group to Sphenodontinae. Sphenodontines first appeared during the Early Jurassic, and are characterised by a complete lower temporal bar caused by the fusion of the quadrate/quadratojugal and the jugal The jugal is a skull bone found in most reptiles, amphibians and birds. In mammals, the jugal is often called the malar or zygomatic. It is connected to th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tuatara
Tuatara (''Sphenodon punctatus'') are reptiles endemic to New Zealand. Despite their close resemblance to lizards, they are part of a distinct lineage, the order Rhynchocephalia. The name ''tuatara'' is derived from the Māori language and means "peaks on the back". The single extant species of tuatara is the only surviving member of its order. Rhynchocephalians originated during the Triassic (~250 million years ago), reached worldwide distribution and peak diversity during the Jurassic and, with the exception of tuatara, were extinct by 60 million years ago. Their closest living relatives are squamates (lizards and snakes). For this reason, tuatara are of interest in the study of the evolution of lizards and snakes, and for the reconstruction of the appearance and habits of the earliest diapsids, a group of amniote tetrapods that also includes dinosaurs (including birds) and crocodilians. Tuatara are greenish brown and grey, and measure up to from head to tail-tip and wei ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ankylosphenodon
''Ankylosphenodon'' is an extinct species of sphenodontian known from Tepexi de Rodriguez, Mexico. It is known from Early Cretaceous sedimentary deposits from the Tlayua formation. Lifestyle ''Ankylosphenodon'' is thought to have been an aquatic reptile due to its pachyostotic skeleton and other anatomical features often seen in aquatic animals. There is also evidence that its teeth were constantly growing throughout its lifetime, which may be indicative of herbivory, a rare characteristic among Lepidosauria The Lepidosauria (, from Greek meaning ''scaled lizards'') is a subclass or superorder of reptiles, containing the orders Squamata and Rhynchocephalia. Squamata includes snakes, lizards, and amphisbaenians. Squamata contains over 9,000 species .... References Sphenodontia Cretaceous reptiles of North America Prehistoric reptile genera {{Cretaceous-reptile-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sapheosaurus
''Sapheosaurus'' was an extinct genus of Late Jurassic Sphenodontia, sphenodont. Its skull was longer and narrower than that of ''Homoeosaurus''. It was classified as a genus of sapheosaur by Michael Benton in 1985. It reached a length of 70 cm from snout to tail. ''Sapheosaurus'' belongs to the clade Sapheosauridae, that also includes other taxa like ''Kallimodon''. It is believed to be one of two aquatic sphenodont lineages, with Pleurosauridae being the other.Marc E. H. Jones, Skull shape and feeding strategy in Sphenodon and other Rhynchocephalia (Diapsida: Lepidosauria), Article in Journal of Morphology 269(8):945-66 · August 2008 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.10634 · Source: PubMed Species ''Sapheosaurus laticeps'' (also known as ''Piocormus'') differed from ''Sapheosaurus thiollierei'' by its smaller size and more vertebrae. ''S. thiollierei'' had 22 back and neck vertebrae, while ''S. laticeps'' had 26. Also, the two differ in relative limb length. ''S. laticeps'' lived in F ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Homoeosaurus
''Homoeosaurus'' is an extinct genus of sphenodont reptile. It was found in limestone in Bavaria, Germany, as well as in France and the United Kingdom. It was related to the modern tuatara, though it was a considerably more gracile. There were several species varying greatly in size and morphology.G. A. Boulenger, (1891) On British Remains of ''Homœosaurus'', with Remarks on the Classification of the Rhynchocephalia Rhynchocephalia (; ) is an order of lizard-like reptiles that includes only one living species, the tuatara (''Sphenodon punctatus'') of New Zealand. Despite its current lack of diversity, during the Mesozoic rhynchocephalians were a diverse g .... Article in ''Journal of Zoology'' 59(1):167 - 172. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1891.tb06820.x References Jurassic lepidosaurs Sphenodontia Solnhofen fauna Late Jurassic reptiles of Europe Prehistoric reptile genera {{jurassic-reptile-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cynosphenodon
''Cynosphenodon'' ( ; "Dog Sphenodontian") is an extinct genus of the family Sphenodontidae from the Middle Jurassic La Boca Formation of Tamaulipas, Mexico. Growth patterns in the teeth of ''Cynosphenodon'' suggest its close relationship with the modern tuatara Tuatara (''Sphenodon punctatus'') are reptiles endemic to New Zealand. Despite their close resemblance to lizards, they are part of a distinct lineage, the order Rhynchocephalia. The name ''tuatara'' is derived from the Māori language and m ....Reynoso, V. H. (2003). Growth patterns and ontogenetic variation of the teeth and jaws of the Middle Jurassic sphenodontian ''Cynosphenodon huizachalensis'' (Reptilia: Rhynchocephalia). ''Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 40''(4), 609–619 References Jurassic lepidosaurs Sphenodontia Fossils of Mexico Prehistoric reptile genera {{Jurassic-reptile-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zapatadon
''Zapatadon'' is an extinct genus of sphenodontid reptile from the end of the Early Jurassic in the lower part of La Boca Formation of Tamaulipas, Mexico.Marisol Montellano, James A. Hopson and James M. Clark (2008)Late Early Jurassic Mammaliaforms from Huizachal Canyon, Tamaulipas, México ''Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology'', Vol. 28, No. 4 (Dec. 12, 2008), pp. 1130-1143. Is known from a nearly complete skull with mandible of a post-hatchling individual (the specimen IGM 3497, in the Instituto de Geologia, of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico), and is one of the smallest skulls between the sphenodontians, with an estimated total length of 11.3 millimetres, a bit smaller than the hatchling individuals observed in the modern tuatara (''Sphenodon''); features like the oblique mandibular symphysis suggests that the holotype is from an individual in a relatively mature stage of ontogenic development. ''Zapatadon'' is diagnosed by their hatchling tooth series located in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1997 In Paleontology
Plants Cycadophytes Cycadophyte research *Hopkins and Johnson briefly report the first occurrence of cycad leaves from the Eocene Okanagan Highlands Klondike Mountain Formation which will later be identified to the family Zamiaceae. Angiosperms Fungi newly named Arthropoda Insects Plesiosaurs Newly Named Plesiosaurs Archosauromorphs Pterosaurs Newly Named Pterosaurs Non-avian dinosauromorphs * Paleontologist Karen Chin received a coprolite that was excavated during 1995 from strata dating back to the Maastrichtian in Saskatchewan, Canada. The specimen was about 17 inches (44 cm) long and contained fragments of bone. Due to its size, contents and age, the coprolite was believed to have been the remains of ''Tyrannosaurus rex'' feces. This discovery was announced in a 1998 paper published in the journal ''Nature''. * A Saharan expedition under the leadership of Paul Sereno yielded fruit when a team member stumbled on the bones and skull of '' Nigersa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family (taxonomy), family. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial species name for each species within the genus. :E.g. ''Panthera leo'' (lion) and ''Panthera onca'' (jaguar) are two species within the genus ''Panthera''. ''Panthera'' is a genus within the family Felidae. The composition of a genus is determined by taxonomy (biology), taxonomists. The standards for genus classification are not strictly codified, so different authorities often produce different classifications for genera. There are some general practices used, however, including the idea that a newly defined genus should fulfill these three criteria to be descriptively useful: # monophyly – all descendants ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Osteoderm
Osteoderms are bony deposits forming scales, plates, or other structures based in the dermis. Osteoderms are found in many groups of extant and extinct reptiles and amphibians, including lizards, crocodilians, frogs, temnospondyls (extinct amphibians), various groups of dinosaurs (most notably ankylosaurs and stegosaurians), phytosaurs, aetosaurs, placodonts, and hupehsuchians (marine reptiles with possible ichthyosaur affinities). Osteoderms are uncommon in mammals, although they have occurred in many xenarthrans (armadillos and the extinct glyptodonts and mylodontid and scelidotheriid ground sloths). The heavy, bony osteoderms have evolved independently in many different lineages. The armadillo osteoderm is believed to develop in subcutaneous dermal tissues. These varied structures should be thought of as anatomical analogues, not homologues, and do not necessarily indicate monophyly. The structures are however derived from scutes, common to all classes of amniotes and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
