Brachyrhinodon (meaning "short nose tooth") is an extinct genus of sphenodontian from the Late Triassic Lossiemouth Sandstone of Scotland.
| Brachyrhinodon Temporal range: Late Triassic,
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| Genus: | Brachyrhinodon Huene, 1910
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| Brachyrhinodon taylori Huene, 1910
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History of discovery
editBrachyrhinodon and its single species B. taylori originally described in 1910 by German paleontologist Friedrich von Huene based on three specimens found near Elgin, Scotland where a number of reptile fossils (collectively dubbed the "Elgin Reptiles") have been found. The species was later redescribed in 1989 based on 12 specimens, representing at least 10 individuals. The specimens are largely preserved as negative moulds within the sandstone, which meant that casts needed to be made for description.[1]
Description
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Brachyrhinodon is known from remains covering most of the skeleton. The skull of Brachyrhinodon is around 2.5 centimetres (0.98 in) long. The skull is relatively blunt. The front of the upper jaw overhangs the front of the lower jaw. The teeth are conical. The postcranial skeleton is similar to that of other sphenodontians.[1]
Taxonomy
editBrachyrhinodon is considered to be a member of Eusphenodontia. Some studies have recovered it as closely related to Clevosaurus, placing both genera as part of the family Clevosauridae,[2][3] with some studies finding B. taylori nested within Clevosaurus.[3] Other studies have recovered Brachyrhinodon as unrelated to Clevosaurus.[4]
Ecology
editA 1985 paper suggested an omnivorous diet.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b Fraser, N. C.; Benton, M. J. (August 1989). "The Triassic reptiles Brachyrhinodon and Polysphenodon and the relationships of the sphenodontids". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 96 (4): 413–445. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1989.tb02521.x.
- ^ Herrera-Flores, Jorge A.; Stubbs, Thomas L.; Elsler, Armin; Benton, Michael J. (2018-04-06). "Taxonomic reassessment of Clevosaurus latidens Fraser, 1993 (Lepidosauria, Rhynchocephalia) and rhynchocephalian phylogeny based on parsimony and Bayesian inference". Journal of Paleontology. 92 (4): 734–742. doi:10.1017/jpa.2017.136. ISSN 0022-3360.
- ^ a b Chambi-Trowell, Sofia A. V.; Martinelli, Agustín G.; Whiteside, David I.; Vivar, Paulo R. Romo de; Soares, Marina Bento; Schultz, Cesar L.; Gill, Pamela G.; Benton, Michael J.; Rayfield, Emily J. (2021-06-03). "The diversity of Triassic South American sphenodontians: a new basal form, clevosaurs, and a revision of rhynchocephalian phylogeny". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 19 (11): 787–820. doi:10.1080/14772019.2021.1976292. hdl:1983/af14affc-a26e-426b-83ca-e1833e355882. ISSN 1477-2019.
- ^ DeMar, David G.; Jones, Marc E. H.; Carrano, Matthew T. (2022-12-31). "A nearly complete skeleton of a new eusphenodontian from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation, Wyoming, USA, provides insight into the evolution and diversity of Rhynchocephalia (Reptilia: Lepidosauria)". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 20 (1): 1–64. doi:10.1080/14772019.2022.2093139. hdl:2440/136608. ISSN 1477-2019. S2CID 252325953.
- ^ M.J. Benton, A.D. Walker Palaeoecology, taphonomy and dating of Permo-Triassic reptiles from Elgin, north-east Scotland Palaeontology, 28 (1985), pp. 207-234
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