6.1 Hyperodapedon gordoni
This is a cast of the skull and lower jaw of a rhynchosaur. Rhynchosaurs are basal archosauromorphs. They are characterised by a beak-like snout. Note the single external nostril at the front of the snout – in life the flesh of the nose probably divided this into two openings.
Although
rhynchosaurs are archosauromorphs, they lack the antorbital opening and
external mandibular opening. Identify the orbits and the temporal openings and bars.
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