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Prehistoric reptile

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The term prehistoric reptile covers a broad category that is intended to help distinguish the dinosaurs from other prehistoric reptiles. As the dinosaurs, because of their long and successful reign for many millions of years, are almost exclusively dealt with in their own category of prehistoric life.

The category covers all the non-dinosaurian reptiles which are often erroneously considered to be dinosaurs, such as the seafaring varieties of plesiosaurs and the flying pterosaurs. Also included are ancient crocodiles such as Deinosuchus.

For information on the synapsids, which were previously known as "mammal-like reptiles" (including the well-known Dimetrodon), which are not part of the clade Sauropsida (with which "Reptilia" is generally synonymized), see Synapsid (amniotes related to mammals). For information on the ancestors of reptiles, traditionally classified as labyrinthodont amphibians, see Reptiliomorpha (reptile-like tetrapods).

List of prehistoric reptiles by group

Early reptiles

Early anapsids

Turtles, tortoises and terrapins

Early diapsids

Ichthyosaurs

Plesiosaurs, placodonts, and nothosaurs

Squamates: snakes, lizards, and amphisbaenians (worm lizards)

Early archosaurs

Crocodilians

Flying reptiles (Pterosaurs)

See also

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