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Eremiasaurus heterodontus

Reptilia - Mosasauridae

Taxonomy
Eremiasaurus heterodontus was named by LeBlanc et al. (2012). Its type specimen is UALVP 51744 and OCP DEK/GE 112 (syntypes), a partial skeleton (Two partial skeletons), and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Oulad Abdoun Basin (Couche III, general), which is in a Maastrichtian marine sandstone in the Phosphates Formation of Morocco.

Synonymy list
YearName and author
2012Eremiasaurus heterodontus LeBlanc et al. p. 83
2014Eremiasaurus heterodontus Fanti et al.
2019Eremiasaurus heterodontus Driscoll et al.

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
—Bilateria
—EubilateriaAx 1987
—Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
—Osteichthyes()
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
—Tetrapoda
—Reptiliomorpha
RankNameAuthor
—Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
—Cotylosauria()
—Amniota
—Sauropsida
classReptilia
—Squamata()
familyMosasauridae
subfamilyMosasaurinaeGervais 1853
tribeMosasaurini
genusEremiasaurus
speciesheterodontus

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

†Eremiasaurus heterodontus LeBlanc et al. 2012
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Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
A. R. H. LeBlanc et al. 2012Pterygoid teeth become increasingly curved posteriorly; pronounced heterodonty, anterior marginal teeth straight and conical, middle dentition composed of laterally compressed blade-like teeth with anterior
and posterior serrated carinae, posterior teeth asymmetrically expanded anteriorly, producing highly convex anterior surfaces in lateral view; tooth enamel surfaces smooth; upper and lower teeth interdigitate tightly in anterior region of the snout, leaving interdental pitting of the bone between adjacent tooth crowns; interdental spaces decrease posteriorly in maxillae and dentaries; pygal series long, composed of 20–22 pygal vertebrae; intermediate caudal series short, composed of 10 vertebrae. Differing from Mosasaurus and Plotosaurus in having: quadrate infrastapedial and suprastapedial processes fused; very large and rounded stapedial pit; pterygoid teeth large, approaching size of middle marginal dentition; glenoid condyle of humerus gently domed; phalangeal elements long and thin, with only moderately expanded epiphyses. Differing from Prognathodon and Plesiotylosaurus in having: premaxilla internarial bar with dorsal keel; large frontal narial embayments; prefrontals excluded from border of external nares; surangular articular lateral sutural trace straight; retroarticular process inflected almost 90 degrees; quadrate ala thin, with groove along lateral alar rim.