Psephoderma

Taxobox
name = "Psephoderma"
fossil_range = Late Triassic

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image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Psephoderma alpinum" from the Late Triassic of Italy
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
ordo = Placodontia
superfamilia = Cyamodontoidea
familia = Placochelyidae
genus = "Psephoderma"
genus_authority = Meyer, 1858
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =
* "P. alpinum" (type)
* "P. anglicum" Meyer, 1867

"Psephoderma" is a genus of placodont that was very similar to its relatives "Placochelys" and "Cyamodus". "Psephoderma" had a flattened skull and a narrow, straight rostrum. Inside this skull, embedded in the jaws, were rounded teeth specialized for crushing the shellfish it ate. Unlike most placodonts, "Psephoderma" had a carapace that was divided into two pieces, one on the shoulders and back, another on the rear end. "Psephoderma" grew to 180 cm long and lived in the Late Triassic (Norian), about 210 million years ago. It was one of the last placodonts to live.

External links

* [http://www.paleofile.com/Demo/Mainpage/Taxalist/Placodontia.htm]