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Lepidosauria (lepidosaur)

Reptilia

Taxonomy
Lepidosauria was named by Haeckel (1866). It is extant. It was considered monophyletic by Barrett and Evans (2002).

It was reranked as the order Lepidosauria by Zittel (1890) and Ellenberger (1972); it was synonymized subjectively with Lyognatha by Jaekel (1910); it was synonymized subjectively with Lyognathi by Jaekel (1911); it was synonymized subjectively with Squamata by Hay (1930); it was reranked as the superorder Lepidosauria by Olson (1947), Kuhn (1966), Thurmond and Jones (1981), Benton (1985), Carroll (1988), Gao and Fox (1996), Peng et al. (2001) and Martinelli and Forasiepi (2004); it was reranked as the infraclass Lepidosauria by Olson (1966); it was reranked as the unranked clade Lepidosauria by Gardiner (1982), Gauthier et al. (1989), Norell and de Queiroz (1991), Augé and Rage (2006) and Sues and Schoch (2021).

It was assigned to Diapsida by Olson (1947); to Diapsida by Kuhn (1966) and Olson (1966); to Amniota by Gardiner (1982); to Sauria by Norell and de Queiroz (1991); to Diapsida by Barrett and Evans (2002); to Lepidosauromorpha by Benton (1985), Carroll (1988), Gao and Fox (1996), Peng et al. (2001) and Martinelli and Forasiepi (2004); to Reptilia by Haeckel (1866), Zittel (1890), Haughton and Brink (1954), Ellenberger (1972), Haubold (1974), Thurmond and Jones (1981), Carroll and Thompson (1982), Carroll (1982), Stritzke (1983), Sullivan (1986) and Augé and Rage (2006); and to Lepidosauromorpha by Gauthier et al. (1989) and Sues and Schoch (2021).

Synonyms
Synonymy list
YearName and author
1866Lepidosauria Haeckel p. CXXXVI
1887Patricosaurus Seeley figs. 1, 4
1887Patricosaurus merocratus Seeley figs. 1, 4
1890Lepidosauria Zittel p. 450
1947Lepidosauria Olson pp. 44, 45
1954Lepidosauria Haughton and Brink p. 3
1966Lepidosauria Kuhn p. 31
1966Lepidosauria Olson p. 301
1972Lepidosauria Ellenberger p. 152
1974Lepidosauria Haubold p. 35
1981Lepidosauria Thurmond and Jones p. 147
1982Lepidosauria Carroll p. 183
1982Lepidosauria Carroll and Thompson
1982Lepidosauria Gardiner p. 228
1983Lepidosauria Stritzke
1985Lepidosauria Benton p. 157
1986Lepidosauria Sullivan p. 109
1988Lepidosauria Carroll
1989Lepidosauria Gauthier et al. p. 344
1991Lepidosauria Norell and de Queiroz
1996Lepidosauria Gao and Fox p. 13
2001Lepidosauria Peng et al. p. 26
2002Lepidosauria Barrett and Evans
2004Lepidosauria Martinelli and Forasiepi p. 260
2006Lepidosauria Augé and Rage p. 237
2021Lepidosauria Sues and Schoch

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
—Bilateria
—EubilateriaAx 1987
—Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
—Osteichthyes()
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
—Tetrapoda
—Reptiliomorpha
—Anthracosauria
RankNameAuthor
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
—Cotylosauria()
—Amniota
—Sauropsida
classReptilia
subclassEureptilia()
—Romeriida
—Diapsida()
—Eosuchia()
—Neodiapsida
—SauriaGauthier 1984
—Lepidosauromorpha(Benton 1983)
superorderLepidosauria()
superorderLepidosauria()

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.

Superor. Lepidosauria Haeckel 1866 [lepidosaur]
show all | hide all
G. †Cargninia Bonaparte et al. 2010
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†Cargninia enigmatica Bonaparte et al. 2010
G. †Dolichopodus Gilmore 1926
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G. †Euposaurus Jourdan 1862
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†Euposaurus thiolleri Lortet 1892
†Euposaurus thiollierei Lortet 1892
Invalid names: Euposaurus cerinensis Lortet 1892 [nomen dubium], Euposaurus lorteti Lortet 1892 [nomen dubium]
G. †Lacertoidopus Ellenberger 1970
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†Lacertoidopus sociabilis Ellenberger 1970
Or. †Millerosauria Watson 1957
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Invalid names: Broomiidae Nopcsa 1923 [empty], Mesenosauridae [empty]
Or. †Pleurosauria Fitzinger 1843
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Invalid names: Acrosauria Meyer [synonym]
Or. †Prolacertilia Huene 1954
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Subor. †Prolacertoidea Camp 1923
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Invalid names: Macrocnemoidea Kuhn 1946 [synonym], Priceidae Kuhn 1961 [empty]
Subor. †Tanysitrachelia Peyer 1931
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Invalid names: Tanysitrachelidae Kuhn 1946 [empty]
Invalid names: Trachelosauria Broili 1917 [empty]
Or. Rhynchocephalia Günther 1867 [rhynchocephalian]
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Subor. †Clarazisauria Hoffstetter 1955
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Invalid names: Claraziidae Peyer 1936 [empty]
G. †Colobops Pritchard et al. 2018
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†Colobops noviportensis Pritchard et al. 2018
G. †Eifelosaurus Jaekel 1904
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†Eifelosaurus triadicus Jaekel 1904
Fm. †Gephyrosauridae Evans 1980
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G. †Deltadectes Whiteside et al. 2017
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†Deltadectes elvetica Whiteside et al. 2017
G. †Gephyrosaurus Evans 1980
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†Gephyrosaurus evansae Whiteside and Duffin 2017
G. †Hamatopus Lilienstern 1939
G. †Vadasaurus Bever and Norell 2017
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†Vadasaurus herzogi Bever and Norell 2017
Invalid names: Pachystropheidae Kuhn 1961 [empty], Sauranodontes Lortet 1892 [empty], Sphenodontiformes Hay 1930 [empty], Tholodontidae Kuhn [empty]
G. †Sauroeidepus Ellenberger 1970
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†Sauroeidepus matsepensis Ellenberger 1970
†Sauroeidepus quthingensis Ellenberger 1970
Unr. Sphenodontia Jaekel 1910
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G. †Diphydontosaurus Whiteside 1986
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†Diphydontosaurus avonis Whiteside 1986
Infraor. †Eusphenodontia Herrera-Flores et al. 2018
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Fm. †Clevosauridae Fraser 1993
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G. †Brachyrhinodon Huene 1910
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†Brachyrhinodon taylori Huene 1910
G. †Clevosaurus Swinton 1939
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†Clevosaurus bairdi Sues et al. 1994
†Clevosaurus brasiliensis Bonaparte and Sues 2006
†Clevosaurus cambrica Keeble et al. 2018
†Clevosaurus convallis Saila 2005
†Clevosaurus hadroprodon Hsiou et al. 2019
†Clevosaurus hudsoni Swinton 1939
†Clevosaurus minor Fraser 1988
†Clevosaurus sectumsemper Klein et al. 2015
Invalid names: Clevosaurus mcgilli Wu 1994 [nomen dubium], Clevosaurus wangi Wu 1994 [nomen dubium], Dianosaurus Young 1982 [synonym], Dianosaurus petilus Young 1982 [nomen dubium]
G. †Lanceirosphenodon de Vivar et al. 2020
+
†Lanceirosphenodon ferigoloi de Vivar et al. 2020
G. †Microsphenodon Chambi-Trowell et al. 2021
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†Microsphenodon bonapartei Chambi-Trowell et al. 2021
Unr. †Neosphenodontia Herrera-Flores et al. 2018
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Fm. Homoeosauridae Gervais 1852
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G. †Homoeosaurus Meyer 1850
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Invalid names: Stelliosaurus Jourdan 1862 [synonym]
G. †Ischnosaurus Thiollière 1856
G. †Pamizinsaurus Reynoso 1997
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Fm. †Pleurosauridae Lydekker 1888
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G. †Acrosaurus Meyer 1854
G. †Palaeopleurosaurus Carroll 1985
G. †Pleurosaurus Meyer
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Invalid names: Anguisaurus Münster 1839 [synonym], Saurophidium Jourdan 1862 [synonym]
Invalid names: Acrosauridae Meyer 1861 [synonym]
Fm. †Saphaeosauridae Nopcsa 1923
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G. †Kallimodon Cocude-Michel 1963
G. †Sapheosaurus von Meyer 1850
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Invalid names: Sauranodon Jourdan 1862 [synonym]
Invalid names: Sauranodontidae Lortet 1892 [synonym]
G. †Opisthiamimus DrMar Jr. et al. 2022
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†Opisthiamimus gregori DrMar Jr. et al. 2022
G. †Polysphenodon Jaeckel 1911
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†Polysphenodon muelleri Jaeckel 1911
G. †Godavarisaurus Evans et al. 2001
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†Godavarisaurus lateefi Evans et al. 2001
G. †Lamarquesaurus Apesteguía and Rougier 2007
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†Lamarquesaurus cabazai Apesteguía and Rougier 2007
G. †Micromenodon Sues and Schoch 2021
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†Micromenodon pitti Sues and Schoch 2021
G. †Opisthias Gilmore 1909
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†Opisthias rarus Gilmore 1909
G. †Parvosaurus Freisem et al. 2024
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†Parvosaurus harudensis Freisem et al. 2024
G. †Pelecymala Fraser 1986
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†Pelecymala robustus Fraser 1986
G. †Planocephalosaurus Fraser 1982
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†Planocephalosaurus lucasi Heckert 2004
G. †Rebbanasaurus Evans et al. 2001
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†Rebbanasaurus jaini Evans et al. 2001
G. †Sphenocondor Apesteguia et al. 2012
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†Sphenocondor gracilis Apesteguia et al. 2012
G. †Tingitana Evans and Sigogneau-Russell 1997
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†Tingitana anoualae Evans and Sigogneau-Russell 1997
G. †Whitakersaurus Heckert et al. 2008
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†Whitakersaurus bermani Heckert et al. 2008
Invalid names: Homoeosauria Jaekel 1910 [synonym], Sauranodonti Marsh 1879 [empty], Sphenodonta [synonym]
Fm. Sphenodontidae Cope 1871
+
G. †Ankylosphenodon Reynoso 2000
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Subfm. †Brachyrhinodontinae Huene 1948
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Invalid names: Palacrodontinae Haughton 1924 [synonym]
G. †Cynosphenodon Reynoso 1996
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G. †Derasmosaurus Barbera and Macuglia 1988
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†Derasmosaurus pietrarojae Barbera and Macuglia 1988
G. †Elachistosuchus Janensch 1949
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†Elachistosuchus huenei Janensch 1949
G. †Glevosaurus Swinton 1939
G. †Leptosaurus Fitzinger 1837
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†Leptosaurus neptunius Goldfuss 1831
†Leptosaurus pulchellus Zittel 1887
G. †Oenosaurus Rauhut et al. 2012
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†Oenosaurus muehlheimensis Rauhut et al. 2012
Unr. †Opisthodontia Apesteguía and Novas 2003
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G. †Alamitosphenos Agnolín et al. 2023
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†Alamitosphenos mineri Agnolín et al. 2023
Subfm. †Eilenodontinae Rasmussen and Callison 1981
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G. †Eilenodon Rasmussen and Callison 1981
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†Eilenodon robustus Rasmussen and Callison 1981
G. †Kaikaifilusaurus Simon and Kellner 2003
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†Kaikaifilusaurus calvoi Simon and Kellner 2003
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Invalid names: Priosphenodon avelasi Apesteguía and Novas 2003 [synonym]
†Kaikaifilusaurus minimus Apesteguia and Carballido 2014
G. †Patagosphenos Gentil et al. 2019
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†Patagosphenos wataku Gentil et al. 2019
G. †Toxolophosaurus Olson 1960
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†Toxolophosaurus cloudi Olson 1960
G. †Fraserosphenodon Herrera-Flores et al. 2018
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G. †Kawasphenodon Apesteguía 2005
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†Kawasphenodon expectatus Apesteguía 2005
†Kawasphenodon peligrensis Apesteguía et al. 2014
G. †Priosphenodon Apesteguía and Novas 2003
G. †Sphenotitan Martinez et al. 2013
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†Sphenotitan leyesi Martinez et al. 2013
G. †Trullidens Kligman et al. 2021
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†Trullidens purgatorii Kligman et al. 2021
G. †Paleollanosaurus Heckert 2004
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†Paleollanosaurus fraseri Heckert 2004
G. †Piocormus Wagner 1852
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†Piocormus laticeps Wagner 1852
G. †Scharschengia Huene 1940
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G. †Sigmala Fraser 1986
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†Sigmala sigmala Fraser 1986
G. †Simila
G. Sphenodon Gray 1831
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Sphenodon guentheri Gunther 1867 [Brother island tuatara]
Sphenodon punctata Gray 1842 [tuatara]
Subfm. Sphenodontinae Cope 1871
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G. †Navajosphenodon Simões et al. 2022
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†Navajosphenodon sani Simões et al. 2022
G. †Notosphenos Agnolín et al. 2024
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†Notosphenos finisterre Agnolín et al. 2024
G. †Sphenofontis Villa et al. 2021
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†Sphenofontis velserae Villa et al. 2021
G. †Tika Apesteguía et al. 2021
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†Tika giacchinoi Apesteguía et al. 2021
G. †Sphenovipera Reynoso 2005
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†Sphenovipera jimmysjoyi Reynoso 2005
G. †Theretairus Simpson 1926
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†Theretairus antiquus Simpson 1926
G. †Zapatadon Reynoso and Clark 1998
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†Zapatadon ejidoensis Reynoso and Clark 1998
Invalid names: Hatteriidae Cope 1864 [synonym]
Invalid names: Patricosaurus Seeley 1887 [nomen dubium], Weigeltisauria Kuhn 1939 [empty]
Diagnosis
No diagnoses are available
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Environment: terrestrialsubc
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Created: 2017-04-17 15:16:03
Modified: 2017-04-17 15:16:03
Source: subc = subclass, c = class, subp = subphylum
References: Hendy et al. 2009, Carroll 1988

Age range

Maximum range based only on fossils: base of the Olenekian to the top of the Holocene or 251.20000 to 0.00000 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 247.2 Ma

Collections (257 total)

Oldest occurrences

Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Early/Lower Triassic252.17 - 247.2United Kingdom (England) Hamatopus sp. (184048)
Early/Lower Triassic252.17 - 247.2Germany (Saarland) Lepidosauria indet. (36204)
Induan - Olenekian252.17 - 247.2Russian Federation (Orenburg) Rhynchocephalia indet. (37040)
Smithian251.3 - 247.2Russian Federation (Orenburg) Rhynchocephalia indet. (196057)
Spathian251.3 - 247.2Russian Federation (Orenburg) Scharschengia sp. (196059)
Olenekian - Anisian251.2 - 242.0Germany (Thuringia) Hamatopus wildfeueri (182300)
Aegean - Bithynian247.2 - 242.0Germany (Rheinland-Pfalz) Eifelosaurus triadicus (134292)
Longobardian242.0 - 235.0Germany (Baden-Württemberg) Lepidosauria indet. (101873) Rhynchocephalia indet. (101875)
Carnian237.0 - 228.0USA (Texas) Sphenodontidae indet. (84271)
Carnian237.0 - 228.0India (Madhya Pradesh) Sphenodontia indet. (105292) Sphenodontidae indet. (207798)
Carnian237.0 - 228.0USA (Virginia) Sphenodonta indet., Lacertilia indet. (39159)
Carnian237.0 - 228.0United Kingdom (England) Clevosaurus hudsoni, Sphenodontia indet. (13173) Diphydontosaurus avonis, Clevosaurus sectumsemper (176266) Diphydontosaurus sp., Clevosaurus latidens, Sigmala sigmala, Planocephalosaurus sp. (13182) Lepidosauria indet., Diphydontosaurus avonis, Clevosaurus sectumsemper (176263) Lepidosauria indet., Planocephalosaurus sp., Diphydontosaurus avonis, Clevosaurus sp., Sphenodontia indet. (46889) Pelecymala robustus, Sphenodontia indet., Planocephalosaurus sp., Sigmala sp., Clevosaurus hudsoni (13175 13176) Planocephalosaurus robinsonae, Sigmala sigmala, Pelecymala robustus (13177) Planocephalosaurus sp., Sigmala sp., Clevosaurus sp. (13179 13181) Planocephalosaurus sp., Sigmala sp., Clevosaurus sp., Sphenodontia indet. (13178 13180) Sigmala sigmala, Pelecymala robustus, Sphenodontia indet., Planocephalosaurus sp., Clevosaurus sp. (13183) Sigmala sigmala, Sphenodontia indet., Planocephalosaurus sp. (13174)
Carnian237.0 - 228.0United Kingdom (Wales) Lepidosauria indet., Rhynchocephalia taxon A, Diphydontosaurus sp., Clevosaurus sp., Clevosaurus cambrica (27012)
Carnian237.0 - 228.0Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul) Clevosaurus hadroprodon (203745)
Carnian - Norian237.0 - 208.5United Kingdom (Scotland) Brachyrhinodon taylori (57948)
Carnian - Norian237.0 - 208.5Germany (Niedersachsen) Polysphenodon muelleri (98627)
Late/Upper Triassic - Early/Lower Jurassic237.0 - 174.7USA (Utah) Sphenodontia indet. A, Sphenodontia indet. B (183201)
Tuvalian232.0 - 221.5Poland (Opole) Rhynchocephalia indet. (61449)
Tuvalian232.0 - 221.5USA (Virginia) Micromenodon pitti (220419)
Norian228.0 - 208.5USA (Arizona) Reptilia indet. (84263) Sphenodontidae indet. (39160 48423 84017 92850 93418)