Acleistorhinus

Acleistorhinus
Temporal range: Early Permian, 273.6–271.6 Ma
Illustration of Acleistorhinus skull
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Clade: Parareptilia
Order: Procolophonomorpha
Family: Acleistorhinidae
Genus: Acleistorhinus
Daly, 1969
Type species
Acleistorhinus pteroticus
Daly, 1969

Acleistorhinus (ah-kles-toe-RYE-nuss) is an extinct genus of parareptile known from the Early Permian (middle Kungurian stage) of Oklahoma.[1] It is notable for being the earliest known anapsid reptile yet discovered. The morphology of the lower temporal fenestra of the skull of Acleistorhinus bears a superficial resemblance to that seen in early synapsids, a result of convergent evolution. Only a single species, A. pteroticus, is known, and it is classified in the Family Acleistorhinidae, along with Colobomycter (also from the Early Permian of Oklahoma).

  1. ^ Daly, E. (1969). "A new Procolophonomorpha Procolophonoid reptile from the Early Permian of Oklahoma". Journal of Paleontology. 43 (3): 676–687.