Diphydontosaurus
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| Diphydontosaurus Temporal range: Late Triassic, 200 Ma |
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| Fossil | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Sphenodontia |
| Family: | †Gephyrosauridae |
| Genus: | †Diphydontosaurus Whiteside, 1986 |
| Species: | †D. avonis |
| Binomial name | |
| Diphydontosaurus avonis Whiteside, 1986 |
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Diphydontosaurus was a sphenodontian reptile from the Late Triassic of England (UK). 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 inches (10 centimeters).[1]
[edit] References
- Whiteside DI. 1986. The head skeleton of the Rhaetian sphenodontid Diphydontosaurus avonis gen. et sp. nov., and the modernising of a living fossil. Phil Trans R Soc London B312:379–430
- Jones MEH. 2008. Skull shape and feeding strategy in Sphenodon and other Rhynchocephalia (Diapsida: Lepidosauria). Journal of Morphology. 269: 945–966. DOI: 10.1002/jmor.10634
- Whiteside DI, Marshall JEA. 2008. The age, fauna and palaeoenvironment of the Late Triassic fissure deposits of Tytherington, South Gloucestershire, UK. Geological Magazine 145:105–147. DOI: 10.1017/S0016756807003925
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