Xenodens

Xenodens; Temporal range: Late Maastrichtian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
	Holotype maxilla of Xenodens calminechari from Sidi Chennane, Morocco
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Clade:	†Mosasauria
Family:	†Mosasauridae
Subfamily:	†Mosasaurinae
Tribe:	†Globidensini
Genus:	†Xenodens; Longrich et al., 2021
Species:	†X. calminechari
Binomial name
	†Xenodens calminechari; Longrich et al., 2021

Xenodens (from Greek and Latin for "strange tooth") is an extinct genus of marine lizard belonging to the mosasaur family. It currently contains a single species, X. calminechari (From Arabic کالمنشار, meaning "like a saw"), which is known from Late Maastrichtian phosphate deposits in the Ouled Abdoun Basin, Morocco. Its closest known relative is believed to be the durophagous Carinodens.

Reconstruction of *Xenodens* skull with the teeth (upper left) and its life appearance

Estimated to have measured around 1 meter (3.3 ft) in length,^[2] both the genus and type species are named for the mosasaur's short and flattened blade-like teeth that collectively form a set of saw-like jaws. This is a feature that has never been seen in any other tetrapod but converge with the jaws of modern dogfish sharks and piranhas. Based on the feeding behavior of these animals, paleontologists believe that Xenodens used its highly specialized dentition for a broad diet on cephalopods, crustaceans, fish, and scavenged marine reptiles.^[1]

External links

This ancient sea reptile had a slicing bite like no other, Xenodens calminechari, with life-restoration. Science News, February 2, 2021
Xenodens, a weird shark-toothed mosasaur from Morocco- Nick Longrich
Dinosaur-era sea lizard had teeth like a shark

References

^ ^a ^b Longrich, N.R.; Bardet, N.; Schulp, A. S.; Jalil, N (2021). "Xenodens calminechari gen. et sp. nov., a bizarre mosasaurid (Mosasauridae, Squamata) with shark-like cutting teeth from the upper Maastrichtian of Morocco, North Africa" (PDF). Cretaceous Research. 123: 104764. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2021.104764. S2CID 233567615.
^ Cooper, S.L.A.; Marson, K.J.; Smith, R.E.; Martill, D. (2022). "Contrasting preservation in pycnodont fishes reveals first record of regurgitalites from the Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Moroccan phosphate deposits". Cretaceous Research. 131 (4). 105111. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2021.105111. S2CID 244884113.

[Longrichetal-1] Longrich, N.R.; Bardet, N.; Schulp, A. S.; Jalil, N (2021). "Xenodens calminechari gen. et sp. nov., a bizarre mosasaurid (Mosasauridae, Squamata) with shark-like cutting teeth from the upper Maastrichtian of Morocco, North Africa" (PDF). Cretaceous Research. 123: 104764. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2021.104764. S2CID 233567615.

[2] Cooper, S.L.A.; Marson, K.J.; Smith, R.E.; Martill, D. (2022). "Contrasting preservation in pycnodont fishes reveals first record of regurgitalites from the Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Moroccan phosphate deposits". Cretaceous Research. 131 (4). 105111. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2021.105111. S2CID 244884113.

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