Oenosaurus is an extinct genus of sphenodontian reptile from the Late Jurassic (Tithonian) aged Mörnsheim Formation of Germany.[1]

Oenosaurus
Temporal range: Tithonian
Holotype skull in multiple views
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Rhynchocephalia
Family: Sapheosauridae
Genus: Oenosaurus
Rauhut et al., 2012
Type species
Oenosaurus muehlheimensis
Rauhut et al., 2012
Close up of tooth plate

Description

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The genus is known from a partial skull preserved in ventral view. The teeth in the upper and lower jaws were fused into tooth plates.[1]

Diet and lifestyle

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It is likely that Oenosaurus led a durophagous lifestyle as indicated by the broad tooth plates.[1] It is unknown if this animal was aquatic or terrestrial.

Phylogeny

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It is currently considered to be a sapheosaur.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Rauhut, O. W. M.; Heyng, A. M.; López-Arbarello, A.; Hecker, A. (2012). Farke, Andrew A (ed.). "A New Rhynchocephalian from the Late Jurassic of Germany with a Dentition That is Unique amongst Tetrapods". PLOS ONE. 7 (10): e46839. Bibcode:2012PLoSO...746839R. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0046839. PMC 3485277. PMID 23118861.
  2. ^ Simões, Tiago R.; Caldwell, Michael W.; Pierce, Stephanie E. (2020-12-07). "Sphenodontian phylogeny and the impact of model choice in Bayesian morphological clock estimates of divergence times and evolutionary rates". BMC Biology. 18 (1): 191. doi:10.1186/s12915-020-00901-5. ISSN 1741-7007. PMC 7720557. PMID 33287835.