Paraplacodus

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Paraplacodus Fossil range: Middle Triassic
Paraplacodus broili
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Superorder: Sauropterygia Order: Placodontia Family: Paraplacodontidae Genus: Paraplacodus Species: P. broilli

Paraplacodus was a Placodont from the middle Triassic period, during the Anisian to Ladinian stages. The fossils were uncovered in Northern Italy and the species was named in 1931 by Bernard Peyer. Paraplacodus means "Almost Placodus", and thus far only one species, P. broilli, has been identified, although as the name suggests, it was similar to Placodus, and also bore a strong resemblance to Saurosphargis.

Like all known Placodonts, Paraplacodus was an aquatic reptile that fed almost exclusively on shellfish. Most known Placodont species can be divided into two groups - the unarmored placodontoids, which would resemble a large, scaly, tooth-filled newt, or the armored cyamodontids, which would resemble a heavily-armored turtle; Paraplacodus would have been in the newt-like family, but grew to a length of 1.5 meters (4.5 feet).

The jaws of Paraplacodus were adapted to eat shellfish, with three pairs of protruding teeth in the top row and two rows of protruding teeth in the front of the jaw, with rounded crushing teeth in the upper and lower jaws. Thick ribs formed a box-like ribcage with an almost-square cross-section, which enabled Paraplacodus to remain close to the seabed while hunting for food.

[edit] References

Dixon, Dougal. "The Complete Book of Dinosaurs." Hermes House, 2006.