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Sphodrosaurus
Taxonomy
Sphodrosaurus was named by Colbert (1960). It is not extant. Its type is Sphodrosaurus pennsylvanicus.
It was assigned to Procolophonidae by Colbert (1960), Carroll (1988); to Neodiapsida by Sues et al. (1993); to Proterochampsidae by Ezcurra and Sues (2021); and to Proterochampsinae by Müller (2025).
It was assigned to Procolophonidae by Colbert (1960), Carroll (1988); to Neodiapsida by Sues et al. (1993); to Proterochampsidae by Ezcurra and Sues (2021); and to Proterochampsinae by Müller (2025).
Species
S. pennsylvanicus (type species)
Synonymy list
| Year | Name and author |
|---|---|
| 1960 | Sphodrosaurus Colbert pp. 1-3 |
| 1988 | Sphodrosaurus Carroll |
| 1993 | Sphodrosaurus Sues et al. p. 248 |
| 2021 | Sphodrosaurus Ezcurra and Sues |
| 2025 | Sphodrosaurus Müller |
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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.
Diagnosis
| Reference | Diagnosis | |
|---|---|---|
| E. H. Colbert 1960 | same as for species | |
| H.-D. Sues et al. 1993 | Head proportionately very large. Atlanto-occipital joint apparently situated well anterior to jaw joint. External surface of posterior mandibular bones distinctively sculptured with longitudinal ridges and grooves. Centra of cervical and more anterior dorsal vertebrae with strongly developed mid-ventral keels. This combination of characters has not been found in any other known diapsid. |
Measurements
No measurements are available
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| Source: subc = subclass, c = class, subp = subphylum | |||||
| References: Hendy et al. 2009, Kiessling 2004, Carroll 1988 | |||||