Priosphenodon avelasi Apesteguia & Novas, 2003
Reptilia
Lepidosauromorpha
Rhynchocephalia
Sphenodontidae
Opisthodontia
Eilenodontinae
Late Cretaceous
Candeleros Fm (Cenomanian-Turonian)
Rio Negro, Argentina
Length: 1 m
Rhynchocephalians were much more diverse during the Mesozoic than they are today, restricted to the tuataras of New Zealand. Priosphenodon was very large for a Rhynchocephalian reaching 1 meter in length and was also totally herbivorous. This is the most abundant vertebrate fossil found in the Candeleros Formation that also contains crocs and dinosaurs bones.
October 9, 2014
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