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Rhynchocephalia (rhynchocephalian)
Taxonomy
Rhynchocephalia was named by Günther (1867). It is extant. It was considered monophyletic by Jones et al. (2013).
It was reranked as the subclass Rhynchocephala by Perrier (1928); it was reranked as the suborder Rhynchocephalia by Lortet (1892), Villa et al. (2021), Agnolín et al. (2024).
It was assigned to Squamata by Günther (1867); to Sauria by Lortet (1892); to Eoditremata by Hay (1930); to Diaptosauria by Osborn (1903), Osborn (1904), Roxo (1937); to Neosauromorpha by Huene (1954); to Lepidosauria by Olson (1966); to Lepidosauria by Haughton and Brink (1954), Haubold (1974); to Reptilia by Cope (1871), Cope (1875), Günther (1886), Zittel (1890), Woodward (1898), Hay (1902), Perrier (1928), Swinton (1934), Kuhn (1946), Kuhn (1964), Frank and Ramus (1996); to Lepidosauria by Kuhn (1966), Jones et al. (2013); to Diapsida by Osborn (1903), Skinner et al. (2020); to Lepidosauria by Gardiner (1982), Simon and Kellner (2003), Apesteguía (2005), Sues and Schoch (2021), Villa et al. (2021); and to Lepidosauria by Agnolín et al. (2024).
It was reranked as the subclass Rhynchocephala by Perrier (1928); it was reranked as the suborder Rhynchocephalia by Lortet (1892), Villa et al. (2021), Agnolín et al. (2024).
It was assigned to Squamata by Günther (1867); to Sauria by Lortet (1892); to Eoditremata by Hay (1930); to Diaptosauria by Osborn (1903), Osborn (1904), Roxo (1937); to Neosauromorpha by Huene (1954); to Lepidosauria by Olson (1966); to Lepidosauria by Haughton and Brink (1954), Haubold (1974); to Reptilia by Cope (1871), Cope (1875), Günther (1886), Zittel (1890), Woodward (1898), Hay (1902), Perrier (1928), Swinton (1934), Kuhn (1946), Kuhn (1964), Frank and Ramus (1996); to Lepidosauria by Kuhn (1966), Jones et al. (2013); to Diapsida by Osborn (1903), Skinner et al. (2020); to Lepidosauria by Gardiner (1982), Simon and Kellner (2003), Apesteguía (2005), Sues and Schoch (2021), Villa et al. (2021); and to Lepidosauria by Agnolín et al. (2024).
Synonymy list
| Year | Name and author |
|---|---|
| 1867 | Rhynchocephalia Günther p. 462 |
| 1871 | Rhynchocephalia Cope p. 235 |
| 1875 | Rhynchocephalia Cope p. 15 |
| 1886 | Rhynchocephalia Günther p. 444 |
| 1890 | Rhynchocephalia Zittel p. 450 |
| 1892 | Rhynchocephalia Lortet p. 29 |
| 1898 | Rhynchocephalia Woodward p. 141 |
| 1902 | Rhynchocephalia Hay p. 459 |
| 1903 | Rhynchocephalia Osborn p. 276 |
| 1904 | Rhynchocephalia Osborn p. 112 |
| 1928 | Rhynchocephala Perrier p. 3118 |
| 1930 | Rhynchocephalia Hay p. 130 |
| 1934 | Rhynchocephalia Swinton p. 47 |
| 1937 | Rhynchocephalia Roxo p. 44 |
| 1946 | Rhynchocephalia Kuhn p. 62 |
| 1954 | Rhynchocephalia Haughton and Brink p. 4 |
| 1954 | Rhynchocephalia Huene p. 59 |
| 1964 | Rhynchocephalia Kuhn p. 312 |
| 1966 | Rhynchocephalia Kuhn p. 36 |
| 1966 | Rhynchocephalia Olson p. 301 |
| 1974 | Rhynchocephalia Haubold p. 35 |
| 1982 | Rhynchocephalia Gardiner p. 228 |
| 1996 | Rhynchocephalia Frank and Ramus |
| 2003 | Rhynchocephalia Simon and Kellner p. 1 |
| 2005 | Rhynchocephalia Apesteguía |
| 2013 | Rhynchocephalia Jones et al. |
| 2020 | Rhynchocephalia Skinner et al. |
| 2021 | Rhynchocephalia Sues and Schoch |
| 2021 | Rhynchocephalia Villa et al. |
| 2024 | Rhynchocephalia Agnolín et al. p. 2 |
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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.
Or. Rhynchocephalia Günther 1867 [rhynchocephalian]
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Fm. †Gephyrosauridae Evans 1980
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G. †Gephyrosaurus Evans 1980
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†Gephyrosaurus bridensis Evans 1980
†Gephyrosaurus evansae Whiteside and Duffin 2017
G. †Hamatopus Lilienstern 1939
Fm. Sphenodontidae Cope 1871
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G. †Eilenosaurus
G. †Glevosaurus Swinton 1939
G. †Leptosaurus Fitzinger 1837
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†Leptosaurus neptunius Goldfuss 1831
†Leptosaurus pulchellus Zittel 1887
Unr. †Opisthodontia Apesteguía and Novas 2003
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Subfm. †Eilenodontinae Rasmussen and Callison 1981
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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. †Kawasphenodon Apesteguía 2005
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†Kawasphenodon expectatus Apesteguía 2005
†Kawasphenodon peligrensis Apesteguía et al. 2014
G. †Priosphenodon Apesteguía and Novas 2003
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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Invalid names: Hatteriidae Cope 1864 [synonym]
Invalid names: Pachystropheidae Kuhn 1961 [empty], Sauranodontes Lortet 1892 [empty], Sphenodontiformes Hay 1930 [empty], Tholodontidae Kuhn [empty]
Diagnosis
| Reference | Diagnosis | |
|---|---|---|
| H. F. Osborn 1903 | Maxillaries and premaxillaries with teeth (excepting Sauranodon). Vertebrae perforate or imperforate. Sacrals 2. Caudals with "splitting point." Hypocentra present or absent. Interclavicle T-shaped. Large puboischiadic (thyroid) foramina. Ilium narrow. Entepi- and ectepicondylar foramina variable. Proximal tarsalia incliding 3 elements (tibiale, intermedium, fibulare) partly coalesced. Distal tarsalia no texceeding 4. |
Measurements
No measurements are available
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| 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 Smithian to the top of the Holocene or 249.90000 to 0.00000 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 248.1 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 248.1 Ma
Collections (121 total)
| Time interval | Ma | Country or state | Original ID and collection number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early/Lower Triassic | United Kingdom (England) | Hamatopus sp. (184048) | |
| Induan - Olenekian | Russian Federation (Orenburg) | Rhynchocephalia indet. (37040) | |
| Smithian | Russian Federation (Orenburg) | Rhynchocephalia indet. (196057) | |
| Olenekian - Anisian | Germany (Thuringia) | Hamatopus wildfeueri (182300) | |
| Spathian | Russian Federation (Orenburg) | Scharschengia sp. (196059) | |
| Aegean - Bithynian | Germany (Rheinland-Pfalz) | Eifelosaurus triadicus (134292) | |
| Longobardian | Germany (Baden-Württemberg) | Rhynchocephalia indet. (101875) | |
| Carnian | United Kingdom (England) | Clevosaurus latidens, Sigmala sigmala (13182) Sigmala sigmala (13174 13177 13183) Sigmala sp. (13175 13176 13178 13179 13180 13181) | |
| Carnian | India (Madhya Pradesh) | Sphenodontidae indet. (207798) | |
| Carnian | USA (Texas) | Sphenodontidae indet. (84271) | |
| Carnian | United Kingdom (Wales) | Rhynchocephalia taxon A (27012) | |
| Tuvalian | Poland (Opole) | Rhynchocephalia indet. (61449) | |
| Norian | USA (Arizona) | Reptilia indet. (84263) Sphenodontidae indet. (39160 48423 84017 92850 93418) | |
| Norian | Argentina (San Juan) | Sphenotitan leyesi (176414 182613 182614) | |
| Norian | Switzerland (Aargau) | Sphenodontidae indet. (22680) | |
| Norian | USA (Texas) | Clevosaurus latidens (13266) Paleollanosaurus fraseri (48424) | |
| Norian | Switzerland (Schaffhausen) | Deltadectes elvetica (194662) | |
| Norian | USA (New Mexico) | Sphenodontidae indet. (83739) | |
| Norian | USA (North Carolina) | Sphenodontia indet. (99541) | |
| Norian | USA (Connecticut) | Sphenodontia indet. (79375) | |
| Rhaetian | Switzerland (Schaffhausen) | Paleollanosaurus sp., Deltadectes elvetica (51235) | |
| Rhaetian | France (Jura) | Rhynchocephalia indet. (60566) | |
| Rhaetian | Germany (Sachsen-Anhalt) | Elachistosuchus huenei (22684) | |
| Rhaetian | United Kingdom (England) | Gephyrosaurus sp., Gephyrosaurus evansae (120898) | |
| Liasicus | Belgium (Luxembourg) | Sphenodontidae indet. (40087) | |
| Early/Lower Hettangian - Sinemurian | United Kingdom (Wales) | Lepidosauria indet. (46140) | |
| Hettangian - Sinemurian | Zimbabwe (Mashonaland North) | Sphenodontidae indet. (50823) | |
| Hettangian - Sinemurian | United Kingdom (Wales) | Gephyrosaurus sp. (46137) Lepidosauria indet. (45919 46118 46146 46150) | |
| Hettangian - Sinemurian | Zimbabwe (Matabeleland North) | Sphenodontidae indet. (22663) | |
| Sinemurian - Pliensbachian | USA (Arizona) | Navajosphenodon sani (27716) Rhynchocephalia indet. (91553) | |
| Pliensbachian | Mexico (Tamaulipas) | Cynosphenodon huizachalensis (28212) Rhynchocephalia indet. B (105237) Sphenovipera jimmysjoyi (136975) | |
| Toarcian - Aalenian | India (Andhra Pradesh) | Sphenodontidae indet. (39673) | |
| Bathonian | Morocco (Figuig) | Rhynchocephalia indet. (176120) | |
| Late/Upper Oxfordian | France (Basse-Normandie) | Sphenodontidae indet. (74916) | |
| Kimmeridgian - Tithonian | USA (Utah) | Rhynchocephalia indet. (47196) Sphenodontidae indet. (53035) | |
| Kimmeridgian - Tithonian | USA (Colorado) | Eilenodon sp. (48165) Rhynchocephalia indet. (11611 137733) | |
| Kimmeridgian - Tithonian | USA (Wyoming) | Theretairus antiquus (12816) | |
| Late/Upper Kimmeridgian | Germany (Bayern) | Leptosaurus pulchellus (59175 181424) Rhynchocephalia indet. 1, Rhynchocephalia indet. 2, Sphenodontidae indet. (187437) Vadasaurus herzogi (189818) | |
| Late/Upper Kimmeridgian | France | Leptosaurus pulchellus, Piocormus laticeps (24426) | |
| Late/Upper Kimmeridgian - Early/Lower Tithonian | USA (Colorado) | Eilenodon sp. (53021) | |
| Early/Lower Tithonian | Germany (Bayern) | Leptosaurus neptunius (181426) Leptosaurus pulchellus (181425) Oenosaurus muehlheimensis (135673) | |
| Early/Lower Tithonian | France (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur) | Leptosaurus pulchellus, Piocormus laticeps (35262) | |
| Middle Tithonian | USA (Utah) | Sphenodontidae indet. (52110) | |
| Tithonian | USA (Utah) | Theretairus sp. (57913) | |
| Tithonian | USA (Colorado) | Eilenodon sp. (53040 177145) Sphenodontidae indet. (53041) | |
| Tithonian - Valanginian | South Africa (Eastern Cape) | Sphenodontidae indet. (88876) | |
| Early/Lower Berriasian - Middle Berriasian | France (Poitou-Charentes) | Sphenodontidae indet. (61930) | |
| Middle Berriasian | United Kingdom (England) | Rhynchocephalia indet. (52312 72142) | |
| Valanginian | USA (Utah) | Toxolophosaurus sp. (27017) | |
| Aptian - Albian | USA (Montana) | Toxolophosaurus cloudi (85072) | |
| Late/Upper Aptian | Argentina (Chubut) | Priosphenodon minimus (154711 154712) | |
| Early/Lower Albian | Italy (Campania) | Derasmosaurus pietrarojae (112631) Rhynchocephalia indet. (68888) | |
| Early/Lower Albian | Italy (Benevento) | Sphenodontidae indet. (155213) | |
| Middle Albian - Late/Upper Albian | Mexico (Puebla) | Ankylosphenodon pachyostosus (133991 136733 221160) | |
| Early/Lower Cenomanian | Argentina (Neuquén) | Kaikaifilusaurus calvoi (118103) | |
| Early/Lower Cenomanian | Argentina (Río Negro) | Priosphenodon avelasi (225915) Tika giacchinoi (206599 225913 225914) | |
| Middle Cenomanian - Early/Lower Turonian | Argentina (Río Negro) | Kaikaifilusaurus sp., Patagosphenos wataku (180530) | |
| Late/Upper Campanian - Early/Lower Maastrichtian | Argentina (Río Negro) | Sphenodontidae indet. (49557) Sphenodontidae indet., Kawasphenodon expectatus (45087) | |
| Early/Lower Maastrichtian | Argentina (Santa Cruz) | Notosphenos finisterre (234712) Rhynchocephalia indet. (230107) | |
| Maastrichtian | Argentina (Río Negro) | Sphenodontinae indet., Alamitosphenos mineri (232186) | |
| Danian | Argentina (Chubut) | Kawasphenodon peligrensis (95914) | |
| Thanetian | Togo (Maritime) | Rhynchocephalia indet. (167948) | |
| Altonian | New Zealand (South Island) | Sphenodon sp. (73690) | |
| Altonian | New Zealand (Otago) | Sphenodon sp. (175629) | |
| Late/Upper Pleistocene | New Zealand (South Island) | Sphenodon sp. (87814) | |
| Late/Upper Pleistocene | New Zealand (North Otago) | Sphenodon sp. (87789) | |
| Holocene | New Zealand (South Island) | Sphenodon sp. (215380 215386 215388 215389 215392 215403 215416 215419 215421 215583 215615) |