Cynosphenodon

Cynosphenodon
Temporal range: Pliensbachian-Toarcian
Diagram of preserved skull elements
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Rhynchocephalia
Family: Sphenodontidae
Subfamily: Sphenodontinae
Genus: †Cynosphenodon
Reynoso, 1996
Type species
†Cynosphenodon huizachalensis
Reynoso, 1996

Cynosphenodon (/ˌsaɪnəˈsfɛnədɒn/ SY-nə-SFEN-ə-don; "Dog Sphenodontian") is an extinct genus of rhynchocephalian in the family Sphenodontidae from the Lower Jurassic sediments of the La Boca Formation of Tamaulipas, Mexico. It is known from a largely complete lower jaw and fragments of the upper jaw. It is suggested to be among the closest known relatives of the tuatara, with both being placed in the Sphenodontinae, which is supported by among other characters, the growth pattern of the teeth.

Cladogram after Simoes et al. 2022.

Sphenodontia

References

  1. ↑ Reynoso, Victor-Hugo (1996). "A Middle Jurassic Sphenodon-like sphenodontian (Diapsida: Lepidosauria) from Huizachal Canyon, Tamaulipas, Mexico". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 16 (2): 210–221. Bibcode:1996JVPal..16..210R. doi:10.1080/02724634.1996.10011309. ISSN 0272-4634.
  2. ↑ 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
  3. ↑ Simões, Tiago R.; Kinney-Broderick, Grace; Pierce, Stephanie E. (2022-03-03). "An exceptionally preserved Sphenodon-like sphenodontian reveals deep time conservation of the tuatara skeleton and ontogeny". Communications Biology. 5 (1): 195. doi:10.1038/s42003-022-03144-y. ISSN 2399-3642. PMC 8894340. PMID 35241764.