Hypsognathus

Hypsognathus
Temporal range: Late Triassic
Fossil of Hypsognathus fenneri (AMNH 1676) in the American Museum of Natural History
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Clade: Parareptilia
Order: Procolophonomorpha
Family: Procolophonidae
Subfamily: Leptopleuroninae
Genus: Hypsognathus
Gilmore, 1928
Type species
Hypsognathus fenneri
Gilmore, 1928
Life restoration of Hypsognathus

Hypsognathus ('high jaw') is an extinct genus of procolophonid parareptile from the Late Triassic of New Jersey and Connecticut.[1]

Hypsognathus resembled a moderately sized lizard, with a length of 33 centimetres (13 in), although it was unrelated to modern lizards. Because of its broad teeth, Hypsognathus is thought to have been a herbivore. Its body is low and broad and it has a relatively short tail. Hypsognathus has some spikes on the side of its head, probably for protection against predators.[2]

References

  1. Sues, H.-D.,Olsen, P.E., Scott,D.M, and Spencer, P.S. (2000). "Cranial Osteology of Hypsognathus fenneri, a Latest Triassic Procolophonid Reptile from the Newark Supergroup of Eastern North America" Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 20(2):275-284.
  2. Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 63. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.


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