Oryctorhynchus
Extinct genus of reptiles
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Oryctorhynchus is an extinct genus of rhynchosaur from the Late Triassic (Carnian-Norian)-aged Wolfville Formation of Nova Scotia, Canada. The type species, Oryctorhynchus bairdi, was named and described in 2020. It was likely a close relative of Beesiiwo, the two genera forming an endemic North American rhynchosaur clade. The Oryctorhynchus fossils were originally referred to the Hyperodapedon until 2020.
| Oryctorhynchus Temporal range: Late Triassic, ~ | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Skeletal reconstruction of O. bairdi | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | †Rhynchosauria |
| Family: | †Rhynchosauridae |
| Subfamily: | †Hyperodapedontinae |
| Genus: | †Oryctorhynchus Sues, Fitch & Whatley, 2020 |
| Type species | |
| †Oryctorhynchus bairdi Sues, Fitch & Whatley, 2020 | |
Discovery and naming
The O. bairdi holotype was discovered in the Wolfville Formation by Donald Baird sometime between 1958 and 1963;[1] its earliest known mention is by Baird (1963).[2] Shortly after, it was informally named the "Nova Scotia Hyperodapedon" (H. sp.) by Robin Whatley in a 1984 paper published by J. A. Hopson.[3] It was briefly described by Michael Benton (1983) also as a species of Hyperodapedon.[4] It was then assigned to cf. "Hyperodapedon" sanjuanensis by Lucas et al., (2002).[5] The specimen was not recognised as belonging to a distinct taxon until it was redescribed in 2020.[1]
The holotype, NSM018GF009.012, consists of a partial jaw and several skull fragments, including the rostrum and skull roof.[1][4]
Specimen NSM018GFF009.003 was initially referred to O. bairdi, but Fitch et al. (2023) later noted that the anatomical characters observed are more consistent with Beesiiwo cooowuse.[6]
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.[1]
Classification
Sues et al. (2020) placed Oryctorhynchus as the sister species to Hyperodapedon and an unnamed hyperodapedontine taxon from Wyoming,[1] later named Beesiiwo.[6]
Paleoecology
Oryctorhynchus is known 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 million years ago).[7]
It would have coexisted with Acadiella,[8] Arctotraversodon,[9] Arctosuchus buceros (?),[10] Haligonia,[8] Scoloparia[8] and Teraterpeton.[11]
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