Hyperodapedon

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Hyperodapedon
Fossil range: Late Triassic
life restoration of Hyperodapedon
life restoration of Hyperodapedon
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Sauropsida
Subclass: Diapsida
Infraclass: Archosauromorpha
Order: Rhynchosauria
Family: Rhynchosauridae
Subfamily: Hyperdapedontinae
Genus: Hyperodapedon
Huxley, 1859
Species
  • H. huenei
  • H. mariensis
  • H. huxleyi
  • H. gordoni
  • H. fischeri
  • H. sanjuanensis

Hyperodapedon is a genus of rhynchosaur (a beaked, archosaur-like reptile) from the Triassic Period. "Scaphonyx", once thought to be a dinosaur, is now known to be based on material from a specimen of Hyperodapedon, making the name "Scaphonyx" an invalid junior synonym.

Hyperodapedon is known from several species and has been found in many areas of the world, due to the continents being joined together in the supercontinent Pangaea during the Triassic. Fossils from the various species have been identified from South America, Russia, Europe, and India. It was hunted by many predators like saurosuchus and prestosuchus.