Sphenotitan
Temporal range: Late Triassic
Skull diagram
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Rhynchocephalia
Clade: †Opisthodontia
Genus: †Sphenotitan
Martínez et al., 2013
Type species
†Sphenotitan leyesi
Martínez et al., 2013

Sphenotitan is an extinct genus of basal opisthodontian sphenodontian reptile known from the Late Triassic (Norian) Quebrada del Barro Formation of northwestern Argentina. It was first described and named by Ricardo N. Martínez, Cecilia Apaldetti, Carina E. Colombi, Angel Praderio, Eliana Fernandez, Paula Santi Malnis, Gustavo A. Correa, Diego Abelin and Oscar Alcober in 2013 and the type species is Sphenotitan leyesi. With an estimated skull length of 10 centimetres (3.9 in), it is relatively large for rhynchocephalians.

At the time of its discovery, Sphenotitan was the earliest known opisthodontian, predating the previous oldest record, Opisthias, by 50 Ma.[1]

Lifestyle

Based upon the dentition seen in the fossil specimens, this animal is believed to be herbivorous.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Martinez, R. N.; Apaldetti, C.; Colombi, C. E.; Praderio, A.; Fernandez, E.; Malnis, P. S.; Correa, G. A.; Abelin, D.; Alcober, O. (2013). "A new sphenodontian (Lepidosauria: Rhynchocephalia) from the Late Triassic of Argentina and the early origin of the herbivore opisthodontians". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 280 (1772): 20132057. doi:10.1098/rspb.2013.2057. PMC 3813332. PMID 24132307.


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