Elephantosaurus
Extinct genus of dicynodonts
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Elephantosaurus is an extinct genus of dicynodont from the Middle Triassic (Ladinian) Bukobay Formation. The holotype and only known specimen, catalogued as PIN 525/25, is a fragment of the skull that includes portions of the left interorbital region and nasal bones, and suggests a very large animal with a skull at least 30 centimetres (12 in) wide[1] (although it may have been smaller than Stahleckeria). The bones of the skull roof are also unusually thick. While usually considered a member of the Stahleckeriidae, generally due to its size, it probably falls just outside the group due to its frontal bone contributing substantially to the margin of the eye socket.[2]
| Elephantosaurus Temporal range: Ladinian ~ | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Synapsida |
| Clade: | Therapsida |
| Clade: | †Anomodontia |
| Clade: | †Dicynodontia |
| Clade: | †Kannemeyeriiformes |
| Genus: | †Elephantosaurus Vjuschkov, 1969 |
| Type species | |
| Elephantosaurus jachimovitschi Vjuschkov, 1969 | |
