Sphenofontis

Sphenofontis
Temporal range: Kimmeridgian
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Rhynchocephalia
Family: Sphenodontidae
Genus: Sphenofontis
Villa et al. 2021
Type species
Sphenofontis velserae
Villa et al. 2021

Sphenofontis is an extinct genus of sphenodontian reptile known from the Late Jurassic of Germany, with a single known species, S. velserae. It is known from a single nearly complete and articulated sub-adult specimen (SNSB-BSPG 1993 XVIII 4), found in the late Kimmeridgian aged Torleite Formation in Brunn quarry in Bavaria, Southern Germany. It is thought to be a close relative of the living tuatara (Sphenodon puncatus), tentatively referred to Sphenodontinae.[1]

  1. ^ Villa, Andrea; Montie, Roel; Röper, Martin; Rothgaenger, Monika; Rauhut, Oliver W. M. (2021-05-03). "Sphenofontis velserae gen. et sp. nov., a new rhynchocephalian from the Late Jurassic of Brunn (Solnhofen Archipelago, southern Germany)". PeerJ. 9: e11363. doi:10.7717/peerj.11363. ISSN 2167-8359. PMC 8101455. PMID 33987027.