Atopodentatus unicus

Note: A digitally colored version of the original, available here:
sounder1995.deviantart.com/art…

Atopodentatus unicus (Cheng et al., 2014)
Sauropsida
Diapsida
Sauropterygia?

Middle Triassic
Yunnan Province, China

Length: 3 m

Her bifurcated premaxilla (split upper jaw) likely evolved for filter feeding, but honestly, your guess is as good as mine.

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2015