Lepidosauromorpha
Encyclopedia
Lepidosauromorpha is a group of reptile
s comprising all diapsid
s closer to lizard
s than to archosaurs (including crocodile
s and bird
s). The only living sub-group is the Lepidosauria
: extant lizards, snake
s, and tuatara
. The extinct lepidosauropmorphans are thought to include the plesiosaur
s.
Reptile
Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
s comprising all diapsid
Diapsid
Diapsids are a group of reptiles that developed two holes in each side of their skulls, about 300 million years ago during the late Carboniferous period. Living diapsids are extremely diverse, and include all crocodiles, lizards, snakes, and tuatara...
s closer to lizard
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
s than to archosaurs (including crocodile
Crocodile
A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae . The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e...
s and bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s). The only living sub-group is the Lepidosauria
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...
: extant lizards, snake
Snake
Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
s, and tuatara
Tuatara
The tuatara is a reptile endemic to New Zealand which, though it resembles most lizards, is actually part of a distinct lineage, order Sphenodontia. The two species of tuatara are the only surviving members of its order, which flourished around 200 million years ago. Their most recent common...
. The extinct lepidosauropmorphans are thought to include the plesiosaur
Plesiosaur
Plesiosauroidea is an extinct clade of carnivorous plesiosaur marine reptiles. Plesiosauroids, are known from the Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods...
s.
Classification
- Subclass Diapsida
- Infraclass Lepidosauromorpha
- AcerosodontosaurusAcerosodontosaurusAcerosodontosaurus is an extinct genus of diapsid reptile....
†. - Superorder SauropterygiaSauropterygiaSauropterygia were a group of very successful aquatic reptiles that flourished during the Mesozoic before they became extinct at the end of the era. They were united by a radical adaptation of their shoulder, designed to support powerful flipper strokes...
- Plesiosaurs † - Lepidosauriformes
- Order EolacertiliaEolacertiliaEolacertilia is a group of extinct diapsid reptiles that may be the ancestors of snakes and lizards. It is uncertain as to whether they are a natural group and it has been suggested that they form a "waste basket" taxon....
† - Superorder 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...
- Order SphenodontiaSphenodontiaSphenodontia is an order of lizard-like reptiles that includes only one living genus, the tuatara , and only two living species...
- Tuatara - Order SquamataSquamataSquamata, or the scaled reptiles, is the largest recent order of reptiles, including lizards and snakes. Members of the order are distinguished by their skins, which bear horny scales or shields. They also possess movable quadrate bones, making it possible to move the upper jaw relative to the...
- Suborder AmphisbaeniaAmphisbaeniaThe Amphisbaenia are a usually legless suborder of squamates closely related to lizards and snakes. As many species possess a pink body coloration and scales arranged in rings, they have a superficial resemblance to earthworms. They are very poorly understood, due to their burrowing lifestyle...
- Worm lizards - Suborder Lacertilia* - Lizards
- Family MosasaurMosasaurMosasaurs are large extinct marine lizards. The first fossil remains were discovered in a limestone quarry at Maastricht on the Meuse in 1764...
idae
- Family Mosasaur
- Suborder Serpentes - Snakes
- Suborder Amphisbaenia
- Order Sphenodontia
- Order Eolacertilia
- Acerosodontosaurus
- Infraclass Lepidosauromorpha