Priosphenodon

Priosphenodon is an extinct Rhynchocephalian known from the Late Cretaceous of Argentina. It is believed to have been a fairly large herbivore, having a longer snout than modern tuatara, with teeth specialised for shearing plant matter.[1] In fact, a recent study found several structural similarities to mammal teeth.[2] Two species are known, P. avelesi and P. minimus.[3]

Priosphenodon
Temporal range: Cretaceous[1]
Life restoration of P. avelasi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Sauropsida
Subclass:
Diapsida
Superorder:
Lepidosauria
Order:
Rhynchocephalia
Subfamily:
†Eilenodontinae
Genus:
†Priosphenodon

Apesteguia & Novas 2003[1]
Species
  • †P. avelesi Apestiguia & Novas 2003[1]
  • †P. minimus Apestiguia & Carballido 2014

Fossils of the genus have been found in the Candeleros and Cerro Barcino Formations in Argentina.

References
  1. Apesteguia, Sebatian; Novas, Fernando E. (2003). "Large Cretaceous sphenodontian from Patagonia provides insight into lepidosaur evolution in Gondwana". Letters to Nature. 425 (6958): 609–612. Bibcode:2003Natur.425..609A. doi:10.1038/nature01995. PMID 14534584.
  2. https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(20)30278-5
  3. Sebastian, Apesteguia; L., Carballido, Jose (2014). "A new eilenodontine (Lepidosauria, Sphenodontidae) from the Lower Cretaceous of central Patagonia". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 34 (2): 303–317. doi:10.1080/02724634.2013.803974. ISSN 0272-4634.
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