.
Oryctorhynchus is an extinct genus of rhynchosaur from the Late Triassic (Carnian-Norian)-aged Wolfville Formation of Nova Scotia, Canada. The type species, O. bairdi, was named and described in 2020. It was originally seen as a species of Hyperodapedonuntil 2020.
| Oryctorhynchus
~235–222 Ma | |
|---|---|
| Skeletal | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | †Rhynchosauria |
| Family: | †Hyperodapedontidae |
| Subfamily: | †Hyperodapedontinae |
| Genus: | †Oryctorhynchus
Sues, Fitch & Whatley, 2020 |
| Type species | |
| †Oryctorhynchus bairdi
Sues, Fitch & Whatley, 2020 | |
Discovery and naming[]
The holotype was discovered in the Wolfville Formation; its earliest known mention is by Baird (1963). Shortly after, it was informally named the "Nova Scotia Hyperodapedon" (H. sp.) by Robin Whatley. It was briefly described by Michael Benton (1983) also as a species of Hyperodapedon.The genus was not recognised as a distinct taxon until it was named in 2020.
The holotype, NSM018GFF009.003, consists of a partial jaw and several skull fragments including the rostrum and skull roof.
Etymology[]
The genus name consists of the orycto prefix, which means burrow, and the rhynchus suffix, meaning snout; the full genus name means burrowed snout. The epithet honours David Baird, for his work on Triassic tetrapods from Nova Scotia.
Classification[]
Sues et al. (2020) placed Oryctorhynchus as the sister species to Hyperodapedon and an unnamed hyperodapedontine taxon from Wyoming.
Paleoecology[]
Ornithorhynchus is from the Wolfville Formation (Upper Wolfville Member; Fundy Basin), which probably corresponds to the Popo Agie Formation. The age of the Upper Wolfville Member is unclear; it either dates from the latest Carnian? - earliest Norian? or the late Carnian (~230 Ma).
It would have coexisted with Acadiella,Arctotraversodon, Arctosuchus buceros (?), Haligonia, Scoloparia and Teraterpeton.
Illustration