Ankylosphenodon

Ankylosphenodon
Temporal range: Early Cretaceous[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
(unranked): Sauropsida
Class: Reptilia
Order: Sphenodontia
Family: Sphenodontidae
Genus: Ankylosphenodon †
Reynoso, 2000[1]
Species
  • A. pachyostosus † Reynoso, 2000

Ankylosphenodon is an extinct species of sphenodontian known from Tepexi de Rodriguez, Mexico.[1] It is known from Early Cretaceous sedimentary deposits from the Tlayua formation.[1]

Lifestyle

Ankylosphenodon is thought to have been an aquatic reptile due to its pachyostotic skeleton and other anatomical features often seen in aquatic animals.[1] There is also evidence that its teeth were constantly growing throughout its lifetime, which may be indicative of herbivory, a rare characteristic among Lepidosauria.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Reynoso, Victor-Hugo (2000). "An unusual aquatic Sphenodontian (Reptilia: Diapsida) from the Tlayua Formation (Albian), Central Mexico". Journal of Paleontology. 74 (1): 133–148. doi:10.1017/S0022336000031310. JSTOR 1306891.


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