Proaigialosaurus

Proaigialosaurus
Temporal range: Late Jurassic
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Sauropsida
Subclass: Diapsida
Infraclass: Lepidosauromorpha
Superorder: Lepidosauria
Genus: Proaigialosaurus
Binomial name
Proaigialosaurus huenei
(Kuhn, 1958)

Proaigialosaurus is an extinct genus of semi-aquatic diapsid reptile. The genus was erected by Kuhn (1958), based upon skull fragments, which have since been lost.[1]

Generally considered the oldest specimen of the lizard family Aigialosauridae, others have considered it to be a pleurosaurid, a marine sphenodontian (the order to which the extant Tuatara belongs).[2]

Proaigialosaurus was discovered in the Solnhofen limestone formation of Bavaria, Germany.[2] It was small (less than a metre long).[2]

References

  1. Dutchak, A.R. 2005. A review of the taxonomy and systematics of aigialosaurs. Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 84 (3): 221 - 22.
  2. 1 2 3 Molnar, R.E. History of monitors and their kin. In: Pianka, E.R., King, D. and King, R.A. (Editors) 2004. Varanoid lizards of the world. Indiana University Press, 588 pp.
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