Rhynchocephalia is an order of lizard-like reptiles that includes only one living species, the tuatara of New Zealand. Despite its current lack of diversity, during the Mesozoic rhynchocephalians were a speciose group with high morphological and ecological diversity. The oldest record of the group is dated to the Middle Triassic around 238 to 240 million years ago, and they had achieved global distribution by the Early Jurassic. Most rhynchocephalians belong to the group Sphenodontia ('wedge-teeth'). Their closest living relatives are lizards and snakes in the order Squamata, with the two orders being grouped together in the superorder Lepidosauria.
Planocephalosaurus is an extinct genus of basal rhynchocephalian. Fossils of the genus are primarily known from fissure fill deposits from the Late Triassic of southwest Britain, with fragmentary remains possibly belonging to the genus also known from the Late Triassic of Texas.
Pleurosauridae is an extinct family of sphenodontian reptiles, known from the Jurassic of Europe. Members of the family had long-snake like bodies with reduced limbs that were adapted for aquatic life in marine environments. It contains two genera, Palaeopleurosaurus, which is known from the Early Jurassic (Toarcian) Posidonia Shale of Germany, as well as Pleurosaurus from the Late Jurassic of Germany and France. Paleopleurosaurus is more primitive than the later Pleurosaurus, with a skull similar to those of other sphenodontians, while that of Pleurosaurus is highly modified relative to other sphendontians. They likely swam via anguilliform locomotion. Vadasaurus and Derasmosaurus from the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous of Europe have been placed as part of this family in some studies, but lack the body elongation that typifies the other two genera.
Brachyrhinodon is an extinct genus of sphenodontian from the Late Triassic Lossiemouth Sandstone of Scotland.
Clevosaurus is an extinct genus of rhynchocephalian reptile from the Late Triassic and the Early Jurassic periods. Species of Clevosaurus were widespread across Pangaea, and have been found on all continents except Australia and Antarctica. Five species of Clevosaurus have been found in ancient fissure fill deposits in south-west England and Wales, alongside other sphenodontians, early mammals and dinosaurs. In regards to its Pangaean distribution, C. hadroprodon is the oldest record of a sphenodontian from Gondwana, though its affinity to Clevosaurus has been questioned.
Diphydontosaurus is an extinct genus of small rhynchocephalian reptile from the Late Triassic of Europe. It is the most primitive known member of Sphenodontia.
Gephyrosauridae is an extinct family of rhynchocephalians that lived in the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic. They are generally considered to be rhynchocephalians that lie outside of Sphenodontia, but in some analyses they are recovered as more closely related to squamates than to sphenodontians.
Sphenotitan is an extinct genus of rhynchocephalian reptile, known from the Late Triassic (Norian) Quebrada del Barro Formation of Argentina. It is the earliest known member of the herbivorous Elienodontinae, and the only one known from the Triassic. It was a large-sized sphenodontian, with an estimated skull length of over 10 centimetres (3.9 in). The skull is roughly triangular in shape, and had large upper temporal fenestrae. The region of the skull in front of the eye socket is short. The premaxillae form a beak, with a cutting edge similar to a chisel. The teeth of Sphenotitan, like other elienodontines, were large and wide, and designed for shredding vegetation, with blade-like palatal teeth on the roof of the mouth.
Atopodentatus is an extinct genus of basal sauropterygian known from the early Middle Triassic (Anisian) of Guanling Formation in Luoping County, Yunnan Province, southwestern China. It contains a single species, Atopodentatus unicus. It is thought to have lived between 247 and 240 million years ago, during the Middle Triassic period, about six million years after the Permian extinction. Atopodentatus was an herbivorous marine reptile, although marine reptiles are usually omnivores or carnivores.
Whitakersaurus is a genus of sphenodontid rhynchocephalian reptile dated to be late Triassic in age and is from the Ghost Ranch fossil quarry in New Mexico, USA. It is named after the discoverer of the Ghost Ranch quarry, George O. Whitaker. The fossil was described in 2007.
Clevosaurs are an extinct group of rhynchocephalian reptiles from the Triassic and Jurassic periods.
Polysphenodon is an extinct genus of sphenodontian reptile with a single species Polysphenodon mulleri from the Late Triassic Keuper Group of Germany.
Fraxinisaura is an extinct genus of basal lepidosauromorph reptile known from the Middle Triassic of Germany. The only known species is Fraxinisaura rozynekae. It possessed an elongated snout, unique features of the teeth, and an ilium which was intermediate in orientation between sphenodontians and squamates. Based on characteristics of the maxilla, it is considered a close relative of Marmoretta from the Middle Jurassic of the United Kingdom, resolving a ghost lineage between that genus and other Triassic basal lepidosauromorphs.
Vinitasaura is an extinct genus of lepidosauromorph from the Late Triassic of Virginia. It contains a single species, Vinitasaura lizae, which is based on a complete jaw and jaw fragment from the Carnian-age Vinita Formation of the Richmond Basin. Vinitasaura lived alongside several other lepidosauromorphs, including the sphenodontian Micromenodon and an undescribed pleurodont taxon. The Vinita Formation has the oldest lepidosauromorph assemblage found in North America, shedding light on the early diversification and dispersal of this reptile group.
Microsphenodon is an extinct genus of sphenodontian from the Late Triassic of Brazil. The type species is Microsphenodon bonapartei. It is a small sphenodontian with a skull roughly 20 mm long, and represents a unique mosaic of characteristics shared by both early diverging sphenodontians and eusphenodontian characters. Specimens of this taxon were first identified by Bonaparte and Sues (2006) but were misidentified as juvenile Clevosaurus brasiliensis, characteristics such as differences in the configuration of the teeth on the palate, and the unique form of tooth implantation seen in C. brasiliensis, helped differentiate these two co-occurring sphenodontian taxa.
Trullidens is an extinct genus of sphenodontian from the Late Triassic (Norian) of Colorado, United States. The type species is Trullidens purgatorii. It is known from a single lower jaw. The morphology of the teeth suggests that it was herbivorous, and a member of the clade Opisthodontia.
Lanceirosphenodon is an extinct genus of sphenodontian from the Late Triassic Candelária Formation of Brazil. It contains a single species, Lanceirosphenodon ferigoloi.
Fraserosphenodon is an extinct genus of sphenodontian from the Late Triassic of the United Kingdom. It contains a single species, Fraserosphenodon latidens.
Paleollanosaurus is an extinct genus of sphenodontian reptile that lived during the Late Triassic. The type species P. fraseri was described from a jaw fragment found in West Texas in North America. Remains have also been reported from Switzerland. It is generally considered a basal sphenodontian. Cladogram following Chambi-Trowell et al., 2021.
Parvosaurus is an extinct species of rhynchocephalian reptile known from the Late Triassic of Germany.
