Morohasaurus

Morohasaurus
Temporal range: Albian? 100 Ma
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Clade: Monstersauria
Genus: Morohasaurus
Ikeda et al., 2021
Type species
Morohasaurus kamitakiensis
Ikeda et al., 2021

Morohasaurus is an extinct genus of cf. monstersaurian squamates know from a single left dentary from the Early Cretaceous (?Albian) Ohyamashimo Formation of the Sasayama Group in Tamba City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.[1] The type and only species is Morohasaurus kamitakiensis.

As of 2021, Ikeda et al. place this taxon a conferatur within Monstersauria based on general synapomorphies but without performing a phylogenetic analysis. The unique characters described in the paper to distinguish Morohasaurus kamitakiensis as a valid species include "the sinuous posteroventral rim of the dentary with a large U-shaped upper notch and small V-shaped lower notch, posteroventral corner of intramandibular septum with a weakly pointed eminence projecting posteriorly, and unicuspid, curved trenchant teeth with distinct blade-like carinae on their mesial and distal sides without grooves or serrations." If its presumed affinities are correct, Morohasaurus represents the oldest known monstersaurian to date.[1]

  1. ^ a b Ikeda, T.; Ota, H.; Tanaka, T.; Ikuno, K.; Kubota, K.; Tanaka, K.; Saegusa, H. (2021). "A fossil Monstersauria (Squamata: Anguimorpha) from the Lower Cretaceous Ohyamashimo Formation of the Sasayama Group in Tamba City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan". Cretaceous Research. 130: Article 105063. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2021.105063. S2CID 239230916.