Ikechosaurus Temporal range:
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Fossil specimen, Beijing Museum of Natural History | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | †Choristodera |
Suborder: | †Neochoristodera |
Genus: | †Ikechosaurus Sigogneau-Russell, 1981[1] |
Ikechosaurus is an extinct genus of choristodere reptile which existed in China and Mongolia during the Early Cretaceous.[2] It contains the species Ikechosaurus sunailinae and Ikechosaurus gaoi. It belongs to the crocodilian-like clade Neochoristodera and was initially assigned to the Champsosauridae by Sigogneau-Russell (1981).[1] Compared to other neochoristoderes, Ikechosaurus has a rather simple dentition, lacking the speciations seen in latter species. It also has parasphenoid palatal teeth, a feature not seen in any other choristodere.[3][4]