Tamaulipasaurus

Tamaulipasaurus Temporal range: Early Jurassic, Toarcian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Speculative Life Restoration
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Clade:	Lepidosauromorpha
Genus:	† Tamaulipasaurus Clark & Hernandez, 1994
Type species
†Tamaulipasaurus morenoi Clark & Hernandez, 1994

Tamaulipasaurus (meaning "Tamaulipas lizard") is an extinct genus of lepidosauromorph reptile from the Early Jurassic of Mexico. It contains a single species, Tamaulipasaurus morenoi, which is based on skull material found at Huizachal Canyon, a productive fossil site in the La Boca Formation. ^{[1] [2]} Tamaulipasaurus had an unusual condensed skull similar to that of amphisbaenians, a modern group of burrowing squamates. It also possessed a variety of plesiomorphic ("primitive") skull features indicating that it was not a true squamate. Nevertheless, other traits do support a position close to squamates, within the broader reptile group Lepidosauromorpha. ^[3]

References

1. R. C. Munter and J. M. Clark. 2006. Theropod dinosaurs from the Early Jurassic of Huizachal Canyon, Mexico. In M. T. Carrano, T. J. Gaudin, R. W. Blob, J. R. Wible (eds.), Amniote paleobiology: perspectives on the evolution of mammals, birds, and reptiles. University of Chicago Press, Chicago 53-7
2. Fastovsky, D. E.; Clark, J. M.; Strater, N. H.; Montellano, M.; R, R. Hernandez; Hopson, J. A. (1995-09-14). "Depositional environments of a Middle Jurassic terrestrial vertebrate assemblage, Huizachal Canyon, Mexico" . Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 15 (3): 561–575. doi:10.1080/02724634.1995.10011249. ISSN   0272-4634.
3. Clark, James M.; Hernandez R., Rene (1994-06-22). "A new burrowing diapsid from the Jurassic La Boca Formation of Tamaulipas, Mexico" . Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 14 (2): 180–195. doi:10.1080/02724634.1994.10011551. ISSN   0272-4634.