Sinocyamodus is an extinct genus of placodont reptile from the Late Triassic (Tuvalian) Xiaowa Formation of China.[1] Only one species, Sinocyamodus xinpuensis, is currently assigned to this genus. This genus was the first placodont to be discovered in the eastern Tethys, overthrowing traditional views that the group was restricted to the western Tethys.[1]

Sinocyamodus
Temporal range: Late Triassic (Tuvalian)
~232–222 Ma
Fossil of Sinocyamodus xinpuensis in the Shandong Tianyu Museum of Nature
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Superorder: Sauropterygia
Order: Placodontia
Superfamily: Cyamodontoidea
Genus: Sinocyamodus
Li 2000
Type species
Sinocyamodus xinpuensis
Li 2000

The first adult specimen of this genus was reported in 2018, and showed a number of morphological differences with previously discovered sub-adult material indicating developmental changes with age.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Li, C. (2000). "Placodont (Reptilia: Placodontia) from Upper Triassic of Guizhou, southwest China" (PDF). Vertebrata PalAsiatica. 38 (4): 314–317.
  2. ^ Wang, Wei; Li, Chun; Wu, Xian-Chun (10 December 2018). "An adult specimen of Sinocyamodus xinpuensis (Sauropterygia: Placodontia) from Guanling, Guizhou, China". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 185 (3): 910–924. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zly080.