Palaeopleurosaurus
| Palaeopleurosaurus Temporal range: Late Jurassic,
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| Fossil specimen | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Rhynchocephalia |
| Family: | †Pleurosauridae |
| Genus: | †Palaeopleurosaurus Carroll, 1985 |
| Species: | †P. posidoniae
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| Binomial name | |
| †Palaeopleurosaurus posidoniae Carroll, 1985
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Palaeopleurosaurus is an extinct genus of diapsid reptiles belonging to the group Sphenodontia.[1]
Palaeoleurosaurus fossils were discovered in Bavaria, Germany from Toarcian (Early Jurassic) deposits,[2] dated to about 183 million years ago.[3] It is one of the few known aquatic sphenodontians,[1] a lifestyle supported by increased bone density in its gastralia.[4] However, the lack of increase in rib and femur bone density suggests that the lineage of Palaeopleurosaurus became gradually adapted to aquatic lifestyles. Histology shows that the number of growth rings in Palaeopleurosaurus was smaller than the living tuatara, possibly indicating a shorter lifespan.[4]
References
- ^ a b Dupret, V. (2004). The pleurosaurs: anatomy and phylogeny. Revue de Paléobiologie, 9: 61-80.[1]
- ^ R. L. Carroll, R. L. (1985). A pleurosaur from the Lower Jurassic and the taxonomic position of the Sphenodontida. Palaeontographica Abteilung A, 1985. Volume 189. Pages 1-28.
- ^ Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
- ^ a b Klein, N.; Scheyer, T.M. (2017). "Microanatomy and life history in Palaeopleurosaurus (Rhynchocephalia: Pleurosauridae) from the Early Jurassic of Germany". The Science of Nature. 104 (4). doi:10.1007/s00114-016-1427-3.
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