Eilenodontinae
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| Eilenodontinae Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
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| Skeleton of Priosphenodon avelasi | |
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| Teeth and jaws of Eilenodon | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Rhynchocephalia |
| Suborder: | Sphenodontia |
| Subfamily: | †Eilenodontinae Rasmussen and Callison 1981 |
| Genera | |
Eilenodontinae are an extinct clade of reptiles belonging to Sphenodontia. They are either considered a subgroup of Opisthodontia,[1] or Sphenodontidae.[2] They had deep jaws with broad, closely packed teeth with thick enamel and noticeable wear facets. They were likely herbivorous, and probably chewed with a proal (forward stroke) movement, with food shredded between the edges of opposing sharp-edged wear facets. Members of the group are known from South America, North America and Europe.[3] The earliest known member of the group, Sphenotitan, is known from the Late Triassic of South America.[2] while the youngest members are known from the Late Cretaceous of South America.[4] The group contains some of the largest known sphenodontians, with Priosphenodon suggested to be the largest known non aquatic sphenodontian, with an estimated body length of over 1 metre (3.3 ft).[5]