Atopodentatus

Atopodentatus
Temporal range: Anisian
Life restoration in a swimming posture, with Dinocephalosaurus in the background
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Clade: Neodiapsida
Superorder: †Sauropterygia
Genus: †Atopodentatus
Cheng et al., 2014
Type species
†Atopodentatus unicus
Cheng et al., 2014

Atopodentatus is an extinct genus of basal sauropterygian known from the early Middle Triassic (Anisian)[1] of Guanling Formation in Luoping County, Yunnan Province, southwestern China. It contains a single species, Atopodentatus unicus.[1] It is thought to have lived between 247 and 240 million years ago, during the Middle Triassic period, about six million years after the Permian extinction.[2][3][4] Atopodentatus was an herbivorous marine reptile, although marine reptiles are usually omnivores or carnivores.[3]

A near complete skeleton along with a left lateral portion of the skull were discovered near Daaozi village, Yunnan, China. The scientific name derives from the peculiar zipper-shaped morphology of the holotype specimen's jaws and unique dentition.[2] However, two fossil skulls discovered in 2016 indicate that the holotype skull was badly damaged, and that the living animal actually had a hammer-shaped head with shovel-like jaws.[5]

  1. ^ a b Cheng, L.; Chen, X. H.; Shang, Q. H.; Wu, X. C. (2014). "A new marine reptile from the Triassic of China, with a highly specialized feeding adaptation". Naturwissenschaften. 101 (3): 251–259. Bibcode:2014NW....101..251C. doi:10.1007/s00114-014-1148-4. PMID 24452285. S2CID 7770583.
  2. ^ a b Prostak, Sergio (17 February 2014). "Atopodentatus unicus: Bizarre New Fossil Reptile Discovered in China". Sci-News.com. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  3. ^ a b Geggel,LiveScience, Laura. "Fearsome Dinosaur-Age "Hammerhead" Reptile Ate... Plants?". Scientific American. Retrieved 2016-05-10.
  4. ^ "Ancient Reptile Ate Like an Underwater Lawn Mower". National Geographic News. 2016-05-06. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved 2016-05-10.
  5. ^ Davis, Nicola (2016-05-06). "Atopodentatus was a hammerheaded herbivore, new fossil find shows". the Guardian. Retrieved 2016-05-06.