Proaigialosaurus
Encyclopedia
Proaigialosaurus is an extinct genus
of semi-aquatic diapsid
reptile
. The genus was erected by Kuhn (1958), based upon skull fragments, which have since been lost.
Generally considered the oldest specimen of the lizard
family
Aigialosauridae, others have considered it to be a pleurosaurid
, a marine sphenodontian
(the order
to which the extant Tuatara
belongs).
Proaigialosaurus was discovered in the Solnhofen limestone
formation of Bavaria
, Germany
. It was small (less than a metre long).
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 semi-aquatic 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...
reptile
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...
. The genus was erected by Kuhn (1958), based upon skull fragments, which have since been lost.
Generally considered the oldest specimen of the 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...
family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Aigialosauridae, others have considered it to be a pleurosaurid
Pleurosauridae
Pleurosauridae is a family of extinct marine diapsid reptiles belonging to the Order Sphenodontia.Fossils from this family have been discovered in Bavaria, Germany from the Toarcian and Tithonian ....
, a marine sphenodontian
Sphenodontia
Sphenodontia is an order of lizard-like reptiles that includes only one living genus, the tuatara , and only two living species...
(the order
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
to which the extant 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...
belongs).
Proaigialosaurus was discovered in the Solnhofen limestone
Solnhofen limestone
The Solnhofen Plattenkalk is a Jurassic Konservat-Lagerstätte that preserves a rare assemblage of fossilized organisms, including highly detailed imprints of soft bodied organisms such as sea jellies...
formation of Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It was small (less than a metre long).