| List of years in reptile paleontology |
|---|
This list of fossil reptiles described in 2020 is a list of new taxa of fossil reptiles that were described during the year 2020, as well as other significant discoveries and events related to reptile paleontology that occurred in 2020.
| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Country | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boipeba [1] | Gen. et sp. nov | Fachini et al. | Late Cretaceous | Adamantina | A snake belonging to the group Scolecophidia. The type species is B. tayasuensis. | | ||
| Borealoilysia [2] | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Head | Middle Eocene | Bridger | ( | An aniliid snake. Genus includes new species B. gunnelli. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming was published in 2021. | |
| Bothriagenys flectomendax [3] | Sp. nov | In press | Wick & Shiller | Late Cretaceous (early Campanian) | Aguja | ( | A member of Borioteiioidea of uncertain phylogenetic placement. | |
| Calumma benovskyi [4] | Sp. nov | Čerňanský et al. | Early Miocene | Hiwegi | A chameleon, a species of Calumma | |||
| Chalcides augei [5] | Sp. nov | Valid | Čerňanský et al. | Early middle Miocene | A skink, a species of Chalcides . Announced in 2019; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2020. | |||
| Eoconstrictor [6] | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Scanferla & Smith | Eocene | Messel | A booid snake. The type species is "Palaeopython" fischeri Schaal (2004). | | |
| Epileolis [7] | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Alifanov | Late Paleocene | A lizard belonging to the family Agamidae. Genus includes new species E. reshetovi. | |||
| Gavialimimus [8] | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Strong et al. | Late Cretaceous | A mosasaur belonging to the subfamily Plioplatecarpinae. Genus includes new species G. almaghribensis. Bardet et al. (2025) interpreted Platecarpus (?) ptychodon Arambourg (1952) as a probable senior synonym of G. almaghribensis, resulting in a new combination Gavialimimus ptychodon. [9] | | ||
| Gnathomortis [10] | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Lively | Late Cretaceous (middle Campanian) | ( | A mosasaur belonging to the family Mosasauridae; a new genus for " Prognathodon " stadtmani Kass (1999). | ||
| Hydrargysaurus [3] | Gen. et sp. nov | In press | Wick & Shiller | Late Cretaceous (early Campanian) | Aguja | ( | A member or a relative of the group Borioteiioidea. Genus includes new species H. gladius. | |
| Hypostylos [3] | Gen. et sp. nov | In press | Wick & Shiller | Late Cretaceous (early Campanian) | Aguja | ( | A member of Scincomorpha belonging to the "paramacellodid"/cordylid grade. Genus includes new species H. lehmani. | |
| Kopidosaurus [11] | Gen. et sp. nov | Scarpetta | Eocene | Willwood | ( | A member of Pleurodonta of uncertain phylogenetic placement. The type species is K. perplexus. | ||
| Messelopython [12] | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Zaher & Smith | Eocene | Messel pit | A stem pythonid snake. Genus includes new species M. freyi. | | |
| Neokotus [13] | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Bittencourt et al. | Early Cretaceous (Valanginian) | Quiricó | A lizard belonging to the family Paramacellodidae. The type species is N. sanfranciscanus. | ||
| Vipera latastei ebusitana [14] | Subsp. nov | Valid | Torres-Roig et al. | Pleistocene–Holocene | A viper, a subspecies of Vipera latastei . | |||
| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Country | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acuetzpalin [31] | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Barrientos Lara, Alvarado Ortega, & Fernández | Late Jurassic | La Casita | An ichthyosaur belonging to the family Ophthalmosauridae. The type species is A. carranzai. | ||
| Cymbospondylus duelferi [32] | Sp. nov | Valid | Klein et al. | Middle Triassic (Anisian) | Favret | ( | ||
| Hauffiopteryx altera [33] | Sp. nov | Valid | Maxwell & Cortés | Early Jurassic (Toarcian) | Posidonia Shale | |||
| Nannopterygius borealis [34] | Sp. nov | Valid | Zverkov & Jacobs | Early Cretaceous (Berriasian) | ||||
| Thalassodraco [35] | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Jacobs & Martill | Late Jurassic (Tithonian) | Kimmeridge Clay | An ichthyosaur belonging to the family Ophthalmosauridae. The type species is T. etchesi. | | |
| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Country | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brevicaudosaurus [49] | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Shang, Wu & Li | Middle Triassic (Ladinian) | Falang | A member of Nothosauroidea. The type species is B. jiyangshanensis. | ||
| Jucha [50] | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Fischer et al. | Early Cretaceous (Hauterivian) | Klimovka | An elasmosaurid plesiosaur. Genus includes new species J. squalea. | | |
| Ophthalmothule [51] | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Roberts et al. | Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary (latest Tithonian/early Berriasian) | Agardhfjellet | A cryptoclidid plesiosaur. The type species is O. cryostea. | | |
| Wunyelfia [52] | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Otero & Soto-Acuña | Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) | Quiriquina | An aristonectine elasmosaurid plesiosaur. Genus includes new species W. maulensis. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming was published in 2021. | | |
| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Country | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akoranemys [61] | Gen. et sp. nov | In press | Pérez-García | Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) | A bothremydid pleurodiran. Genus includes new species A. madagasika. | |||
| Alatochelon [62] | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Pérez-García, Vlachos & Murelaga | Early Pliocene | Cigarrón | A large tortoise. Genus includes new species A. myrteum. | ||
| Allaeochelys liliae [63] | Sp. nov | In press | Carbot-Chanona et al. | Miocene (Aquitanian) | Mazantic Shale | |||
| Amabilis [64] | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Hermanson et al. | Late Cretaceous | Bauru | A podocnemidoid pleurodiran. Genus includes new species A. uchoensis. | | |
| Aragochersis [65] | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Pérez García et al. | Early Cretaceous (Albian) | Escucha | A member of the family Helochelydridae. Genus includes new species A. lignitesta. | ||
| Axestemys erquelinnensis [66] | Sp. nov | Valid | Pérez-García & Smith | Eocene (Ypresian) | Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming was published in 2021. | |||
| Chelonoidis alburyorum keegani [67] | Subsp. nov | Valid | Franz, Albury & Steadman | Late Holocene | A tortoise. | |||
| Chelonoidis alburyorum sementis [67] | Subsp. nov | Valid | Franz, Albury & Steadman | Late Holocene | A tortoise. | |||
| Chersine khosatzkyi [68] | Sp. nov | Valid | Redkozubov et al. | Early Pliocene | A tortoise. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming it was published in 2021. | |||
| Gallica [69] | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Pérez-García | Late Paleocene | A "macrobaenid" eucryptodiran. Genus includes new species G. lapparentiana. | |||
| Itapecuruemys [70] | Gen. et sp. nov | In press | Batista, Carvalho & de la Fuente | Early Cretaceous | Itapecuru | A pleurodiran turtle belonging to the group Pelomedusoides. Genus includes new species I. amazonensis. | ||
| Jainemys [71] | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Joyce & Bandyopadhyay | Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) | Lameta | A member of the family Bothremydidae belonging to the tribe Kurmademydini; a new genus for "Carteremys" pisdurensis Jain (1977). | | |
| Lakotemys [72] | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Joyce, Rollot & Murelaga | Early Cretaceous (Berriasian–Valanginian) | Lakota | ( | A member of the family Baenidae. The type species is L. australodakotensis. | |
| Laurasichersis [73] | Gen. et sp. nov | Pérez García | Paleocene (Thanetian) | Sables de Bracheux | A member of the family Sichuanchelyidae. The type species is L. relicta. | |||
| Melanochelys tapani [74] | Nom. nov | Valid | Garbin, Bandyopadhyay & Joyce | Miocene/Pliocene | Siwalik Hills | A species of Melanochelys ; a replacement name for Nicoria tricarinata var. sivalensis Lydekker (1889). | ||
| Mesoclemmys vanegasorum [75] | Sp. nov | Valid | Cadena et al. | Laventan | La Victoria | A species of Mesoclemmys | ||
| Palaeomauremys metallicus [76] | Sp. nov | Valid | Karl | Oligocene | A member of the family Geoemydidae. | |||
| Palauchelys [77] | Gen. et sp. nov | In press | López-Conde et al. | Late Cretaceous (Campanian) | Olmos | A bothremydid pleurodiran. Genus includes new species P. montellanoi. | ||
| Prochelidella buitreraensis [78] | Sp. nov | Valid | Maniel et al. | Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) | Candeleros | |||
| Ragechelus [79] | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Lapparent de Broin, Chirio & Bour | Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) | Farin-Doutchi | A member of the family Podocnemididae belonging to the subfamily Erymnochelyinae. The type species is R. sahelica. | ||
| Solnhofia brachyrhyncha [80] | Sp. nov | Valid | Anquetin & Püntener | Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian) | Reuchenette | A member of Thalassochelydia. | ||
| Testudo hellenica [81] | Sp. nov | Valid | Garcia et al. | Miocene (Vallesian) | A species of Testudo . | | ||
| Titanochelon kayadibiensis [82] | Sp. nov | Valid | Karl, Staesche & Safi | Miocene (Turolian -Tortonian) | A species of Titanochelon | |||
| Waluchelys [83] | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Sterli et al. | Late Triassic | Quebrada del Barro | A member of the family Australochelyidae. Genus includes new species W. cavitesta. | ||
| Yaminuechelys sulcipeculiaris [84] | Sp. nov | Valid | Oriozabala, Sterli & De La Fuente | Late Cretaceous (Campanian–Maastrichtian) | La Colonia | A member of the family Chelidae | ||
| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Country | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polymorphodon [104] | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Sues et al. | Middle Triassic (Ladinian) | Erfurt | A non-archosaurian member of Archosauriformes. Genus includes new species P. adorfi. | | |
| Rugarhynchos [105] | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Wynd et al. | Late Triassic | Chinle | ( | A member of the family Doswelliidae; a new genus for "Doswellia" sixmilensis Heckert, Lucas & Spielmann (2012). | |
| Name | Novelty | Status | Authors | Age | Type locality | Country | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbonodraco | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Mann et al. | Carboniferous (Moscovian) | Allegheny | A member of the family Acleistorhinidae. The type species is C. lundi. Announced in 2019; [115] the correction including the required ZooBank accession number was published in 2020. [116] | | |
| Elessaurus [117] | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | De-Oliveira et al. | Early Triassic | Sanga do Cabral | An archosauromorph reptile of uncertain phylogenetic placement, possibly a relative of tanystropheids. The type species is E. gondwanoccidens. | ||
| Eomurruna [118] | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Hamley, Cisneros & Damiani | Early Triassic | Arcadia | A procolophonid. Genus includes new species E. yurrgensis. | | |
| Feralisaurus [119] | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Cavicchini, Zaher & Benton | Middle Triassic (Anisian) | Helsby Sandstone | A neodiapsid reptile of uncertain phylogenetic placement, possibly a member of Lepidosauromorpha. The type species is F. corami. | ||
| Gunakadeit [120] | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Druckenmiller et al. | Late Triassic (Norian) | Hound Island | ( | A thalattosaur. The type species is G. joseeae. | |
| Heishanosaurus [121] | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Dong et al. | Early Cretaceous (Aptian–Albian) | Shahai | A member of Choristodera. The type species is H. pygmaeus. | ||
| Lanceirosphenodon [122] | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Vivar et al. | Late Triassic (Norian) | Candelária | A rhynchocephalian. Genus includes new species L. ferigoloi. | ||
| Micromenodon [123] | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Sues & Schoch | Late Triassic (Carnian) | Doswell | ( | A rhynchocephalian. Genus includes new species M. pitti. | |
| Oculudentavis | Gen. et sp. nov | Disputed | Xing et al. | Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) | Burmese amber | A diapsid of uncertain phylogenetic placement. Originally described as a member of Avialae [124] but subsequently argued to be a lizard. [125] Genus includes new species O. khaungraae. Its status as a validly named taxon is controversial because the scientific article it was named in was subsequently retracted. [126] [127] | | |
| Oryctorhynchus [128] | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Sues, Fitch & Whatley | Late Triassic (Carnian? - Norian?) | Wolfville | ( | A rhynchosaur. Genus includes new species O. bairdi. | |
| Raibliania [129] | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Dalla Vecchia | Late Triassic (Carnian) | Calcare del Predil | A member of the family Tanystropheidae. The type species is R. calligarisi. | | |
| Skybalonyx [130] | Gen. et sp. nov | Valid | Jenkins et al. | Late Triassic | Chinle | ( | A member of the family Drepanosauridae. Genus includes new species S. skapter. | |
| Smilodonterpeton [131] | Gen. et sp. nov | In press | Skinner, Whiteside & Benton | Late Triassic (Rhaetian) | A procolophonid. Genus includes new species S. ruthinensis. | |||
| Tanystropheus hydroides [132] | Sp. nov | Valid | Spiekman et al. | Late Triassic | Besano | Italy-Switzerland border | | |
| Trilophosaurus phasmalophos [133] | Sp. nov | Valid | Kligman et al. | Late Triassic (Norian) | Chinle | ( | ||
| Vellbergia [134] | Gen. et sp. nov | Sobral, Simões & Schoch | Middle Triassic (Ladinian) | Erfurt | A non-lepidosaurian lepidosauromorph. The type species is V. bartholomaei. | | ||
| Youngetta [118] | Gen. et comb. nov | Valid | Hamley, Cisneros & Damiani | Early Triassic | A procolophonid; a new genus for "Eumetabolodon" dongshengensis Li (1983). | |||