Biology:Tyrannoneustes

From HandWiki
Short description: Extinct genus of reptiles

Tyrannoneustes
Temporal range: Callovian
Tyrannoneustes lythrodectikos.png
Skull
Scientific classification e
Missing taxonomy template (fix): Archosauria/Reptilia
Clade: Pseudosuchia
Clade: Crocodylomorpha
Clade: Crocodyliformes
Suborder: Thalattosuchia
Family: Metriorhynchidae
Subfamily: Geosaurinae
Genus: Tyrannoneustes
Young et al., 2013
Type species
Tyrannoneustes lythrodectikos
Young et al., 2013

Tyrannoneustes is an extinct genus of geosaurine metriorhynchid crocodyliform from the Callovian stage Oxford Clay Formation of England and the Marnes de Dives of France. It contains a single species, Tyrannoneustes lythrodectikos, meaning "blood-biting tyrant swimmer".[1][2][3]

History and description

Restoration

The genus was rediscovered after a century of storage in a museum basement after being unearthed by fossil hunter Alfred Nicholson Leeds between the years of 1907 and 1909. Its lower jaw measured about 26 inches long and its teeth were blade-like, likely built to attack prey as large or larger than itself, similar to the Late Jurassic Dakosaurus, Torvoneustes, and Plesiosuchus.[3] The holotype specimen was estimated to be more than 3.27 m (10.7 ft) in total body length by Young and his colleagues.[2] Two other specimens (PETMG:R176 and NHMUK PV R3939) belonged to much larger individuals, measuring 4.65 m (15.3 ft) and 5.04 m (16.5 ft) in total body length, respectively.[4]

References

Wikidata ☰ Q2784897 entry