Xenodens

Xenodens ("strange tooth") is an extinct genus of marine lizard belonging to the mosasaur family. It currently contains a single species, X. calminechari (From Arabic کالمنشار, meaning "like a saw"), which is known from Late Maastrichtian phosphate deposits in the Ouled Abdoun Basin, Morocco. Its closest known relative is believed to be the durophagous Carinodens.[1]

Xenodens
Temporal range: Late Maastrichtian [1]
Holotype maxilla of Xenodens calminechari from Sidi Chennane, Morocco
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Superfamily: †Mosasauroidea
Family: †Mosasauridae
Subfamily: †Mosasaurinae
Genus: †Xenodens
Longrich et al., 2021
Species:
†X. calminechari
Binomial name
†Xenodens calminechari
Longrich et al., 2021

Estimated to have measured around 1.6 meters (5.2 ft) in length, both the genus and type species are named for the mosasaur's short and flattened blade-like teeth that collectively form a set of saw-like jaws. This is a feature that has never been seen in any other tetrapod but converge with the jaws of modern dogfish sharks and piranhas. Based on the feeding behavior of these animals, paleontologists believe that Xenodens used its highly specialized dentition for a broad diet on cephalopods, crustaceans, fish, and scavenged marine reptiles.[1]

References
  1. Longrich, N.R.; Bardet, N.; Schulp, A. S.; Jalil, N (2021). "Xenodens calminechari gen. et sp. nov., a bizarre mosasaurid (Mosasauridae, Squamata) with shark-like cutting teeth from the upper Maastrichtian of Morocco, North Africa". Cretaceous Research. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2021.104764.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.