An exceptionally preserved Sphenodon-like sphenodontian reveals deep time conservation of the tuatara skeleton and ontogeny.

ABSTRACT: Sphenodontian reptiles are an extremely old evolutionary lineage forming the closest relatives to squamates (lizards and snakes) and were globally distributed and more diverse than squamates during the first half of their evolutionary history. However, the majority of their fossils are highly fragmentary, especially within sphenodontines-the group including its single surviving species, Sphenodon punctatus (the tuatara of New Zealand)-thus severely hampering our understanding on the origins of the tuatara. Here, we present a new sphenodontian species from the Early Jurassic of North America (Arizona, USA) represented by a nearly complete articulated skeleton and dozens of upper and lower jaws forming the most complete ontogenetic series in the sphenodontian fossil record. CT-scanning provi

SUBMITTER: Simoes TR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8894340 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature