Gephyrosaurus
Encyclopedia
Gephyrosaurus is an early member of Lepidosauria
and the less inclusive grouping Rhynchocephalia (also sometimes referred to as Sphenodontia
). It is distantly related to the extant Sphenodon (tuatara of New Zealand) with which it is shares a number of skeletal features including a large tooth row along the side of the palatine bone (part of the palate) and posterior process of the dentary bone (part of the lower jaw).
of Wales .
Lepidosauria
The Lepidosauria are reptiles with overlapping scales. This subclass includes Squamata and Sphenodontidae. It is a monophyletic group and therefore contains all descendents of a common ancestor. The squamata includes snakes, lizards, tuataras, and amphisbaenia. Lepidosauria is the sister taxon...
and the less inclusive grouping Rhynchocephalia (also sometimes referred to as Sphenodontia
Sphenodontia
Sphenodontia is an order of lizard-like reptiles that includes only one living genus, the tuatara , and only two living species...
). It is distantly related to the extant Sphenodon (tuatara of New Zealand) with which it is shares a number of skeletal features including a large tooth row along the side of the palatine bone (part of the palate) and posterior process of the dentary bone (part of the lower jaw).
Distribution
Remains of Gephyrosaurus are known from the Early JurassicEarly Jurassic
The Early Jurassic epoch is the earliest of three epochs of the Jurassic period...
of Wales .
See also
- GephyrosauridaeGephyrosauridaeGephyrosauridae was a family of sphenodonts that lived in the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic. The members of Gephyrosauridae were named lepidosaurs in 1985 by Michael Benton....
- DiphydontosaurusDiphydontosaurusDiphydontosaurus was a sphenodontian reptile from the Late Triassic of England . This small animal was related to the living tuatara, which survives on the island of New Zealand. Diphydontosaurus may have hunted and eaten insects in the crevices of ancient caves. It may have grown to a length of 4...
- Rhynchocephalia
- SphenodontiaSphenodontiaSphenodontia is an order of lizard-like reptiles that includes only one living genus, the tuatara , and only two living species...
- LepidosauriaLepidosauriaThe Lepidosauria are reptiles with overlapping scales. This subclass includes Squamata and Sphenodontidae. It is a monophyletic group and therefore contains all descendents of a common ancestor. The squamata includes snakes, lizards, tuataras, and amphisbaenia. Lepidosauria is the sister taxon...
- Susan E. EvansSusan E. EvansSusan E. Evans is British paleontologist and herpetologist. She is the author or co-author of over 100 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters....