Fodonyx
Encyclopedia
Fodonyx is an extinct genus
of rhynchosaur
from the middle Triassic
epoch of Devon
in England
. Its fossils (25 specimens) were discovered in Otter Sandstone Formation (Anisian
age) and were first assigned to Rhynchosaurus spenceri
. This species was reassigned to its own genus, Fodonyx (the type and only species is Fodonyx spenceri), that described by David W. E. Hone and Michael J. Benton in 2008
. More recently, one skull was reassigned to the new genus Bentonyx
.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of rhynchosaur
Rhynchosaur
Rhynchosaurs were a group of Triassic diapsid reptiles related to the archosaurs.-Description:Rhynchosaurs were herbivores, and at times abundant , with stocky bodies and a powerful beak...
from the middle Triassic
Triassic
The Triassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about 250 to 200 Mya . As the first period of the Mesozoic Era, the Triassic follows the Permian and is followed by the Jurassic. Both the start and end of the Triassic are marked by major extinction events...
epoch of Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Its fossils (25 specimens) were discovered in Otter Sandstone Formation (Anisian
Anisian
In the geologic timescale, the Anisian is the lower stage or earliest age of the Middle Triassic series or epoch and lasted from 245 million years ago until 237 million years ago, approximately...
age) and were first assigned to Rhynchosaurus spenceri
Rhynchosaurus
Rhynchosaurus is a genus of rhynchosaur that lived during the Middle Triassic Period. It lived in Europe. It was related to the archosaurs, but not within that group. The species of Rhynchosaurus are R. articeps and R. brodiei. Michael Benton had named a third species, R...
. This species was reassigned to its own genus, Fodonyx (the type and only species is Fodonyx spenceri), that described by David W. E. Hone and Michael J. Benton in 2008
2008 in paleontology
-Angiosperms:-Monocots:-New taxa:-Insects:-Xiphosurans:-Placoderms:-Amphibians:Jenkins, F. A., jr, Shubin, N. H., Gatesy, S. M., and Warren, A., 2008, Gerrothorax pulcherrimus from the Upper Triassic Fleming Fjord Formation of East Greenland and a reassessment of head lifting in temnospondyl...
. More recently, one skull was reassigned to the new genus Bentonyx
Bentonyx
Bentonyx is an extinct genus of rhynchosaur from the middle Triassic epoch of Devon in England. Its fossil, a well preserved skull, BRSUG 27200, was discovered in Otter Sandstone Formation and was first assigned to Rhynchosaurus spenceri, that is known from 25 specimens...
.