Nyctiphruretus
Encyclopedia
Nyctiphruretus is an extinct genus of reptiles distantly related to turtle
s. The reptiles lived around about 250 million years ago and looked more like lizards than turtles.
Hundreds of fossil
s of the species Nyctiphruretus acudens were found well preserved near the Mezen River
of European Russia
in all stages of growth. The dentition identified that Nyctiphruretus was a herbivore
. Based on the large numbers of individuals found and the sediment that they were found in, it appears that their diet consisted of aquatic plant
s. Adults discovered averaged 36 cm in length with a 4.4 cm skull that was crushed but recognisable.
There were two species in the genus, the type species being Nyctiphruretus acudens (Efremov, 1938) and the other species Nyctiphruretus ineptus.
Turtle
Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines , characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield...
s. The reptiles lived around about 250 million years ago and looked more like lizards than turtles.
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
s of the species Nyctiphruretus acudens were found well preserved near the Mezen River
Mezen River
The Mezen is a river in Udorsky District of the Komi Republic and in Leshukonsky and Mezensky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. Its mouth is located in the Mezen Bay of the White Sea. Mezen is one of the biggest rivers of European Russia. It is long, and the area of its basin...
of European Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
in all stages of growth. The dentition identified that Nyctiphruretus was a herbivore
Herbivore
Herbivores are organisms that are anatomically and physiologically adapted to eat plant-based foods. Herbivory is a form of consumption in which an organism principally eats autotrophs such as plants, algae and photosynthesizing bacteria. More generally, organisms that feed on autotrophs in...
. Based on the large numbers of individuals found and the sediment that they were found in, it appears that their diet consisted of aquatic plant
Aquatic plant
Aquatic plants are plants that have adapted to living in aquatic environments. They are also referred to as hydrophytes or aquatic macrophytes. These plants require special adaptations for living submerged in water, or at the water's surface. Aquatic plants can only grow in water or in soil that is...
s. Adults discovered averaged 36 cm in length with a 4.4 cm skull that was crushed but recognisable.
There were two species in the genus, the type species being Nyctiphruretus acudens (Efremov, 1938) and the other species Nyctiphruretus ineptus.