Theledectes

Theledectes
Temporal range: Middle Triassic, 245–241 Ma
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Clade: Parareptilia
Order: Procolophonomorpha
Family: Procolophonidae
Subfamily: Theledectinae
Genus: Theledectes
Modesto & Damiani, 2003
Type species
Theledectes perforatus
(Gow, 1977a [originally Thelegnathus perforatus])

Theledectes is an extinct genus of theledectine procolophonid parareptile from middle Triassic (early Anisian stage) deposits of Free State Province, South Africa.The type species, Theledectes perforatus, is based on the holotype BP/1/4585, a flattened skull. This skull was collected by the South African palaeontologist, James W. Kitching from Hugoskop in the Rouxville District and referred to subzone B of the Cynognathus Assemblage Zone of the Burgersdorp Formation, Beaufort Group (Karoo Basin). The genus was first named by Sean P. Modesto and Ross J. Damiani in 2003.[1] However, the species was initially assigned to the genus Thelegnathus (now considered to be a nomen dubium) by C.E. Gow in 1977, as the species Thelegnathus perforatus.[2]

  1. ^ Sean P. Modesto; Ross J. Damiani (2003). "Taxonomic status of Thelegnathus browni Broom, a procolophonid reptile from the South African Triassic". Annals of Carnegie Museum. 72 (1): 53–64. doi:10.5962/p.215088. S2CID 90233554.
  2. ^ Gow, C.E. (1977). "New procolophonids from the Triassic Cynognathus zone of South Africa". Annals of the South African Museum. 72 (6): 109–124.