Cypressaurus Temporal range: Oligocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Iguania |
Family: | Iguanidae |
Genus: | †Cypressaurus Holman, 1972 |
Type species | |
†Cypressaurus hypsodontus Holman, 1972 |
Cypressaurus is an extinct genus of iguanid lizard from the Lower Oligocene of Saskatchewan. It was named in 1972 by Holman as Cypressaurus hypsodontus for jaw bones found in the Cypress Hills Formation showing unique tooth anatomy. The anatomy is very similar to the living genus Sceloporus, which Cypressaurus may be an early species of. The tooth row is 11.7 mm (0.46 in) long, with 24 very tall, pleurodont teeth.
References
- Estes, R. (1983). "Part 10A. Sauria terrestria, Amphisbaenia". In Kuhn, O. (ed.). Handbuch der Palaoherpetologie. Gustav Fischer Verlag. p. 210.