Placodontiformes
Placodontiformes is an extinct order of marine reptiles that lived during the Triassic period. They are characterized by their unique dentition, with large, flat crushing teeth adapted for feeding on hard-shelled invertebrates.
Anatomy and Morphology[edit | edit source]
Placodontiformes were typically small to medium-sized, with a length ranging from 1 to 2 meters. They had a robust body structure, with a short neck and tail. The skull was large and broad, with a short snout. The most distinctive feature of Placodontiformes was their dentition. They had large, flat, pavement-like teeth adapted for crushing hard-shelled prey, such as mollusks and crustaceans.
Taxonomy and Evolution[edit | edit source]
The order Placodontiformes is divided into two main families: Placodontidae and Cyamodontidae. Placodontidae includes the more primitive forms, while Cyamodontidae includes the more derived forms with a turtle-like body plan. The evolution of Placodontiformes is characterized by an increasing adaptation to a marine lifestyle and a specialization for durophagy (feeding on hard-shelled prey).
Paleobiology and Paleoecology[edit | edit source]
Placodontiformes were marine reptiles, living in shallow coastal waters. They were bottom-dwellers, feeding on the seafloor. Their diet consisted mainly of hard-shelled invertebrates, which they crushed with their specialized teeth.
Fossil Record[edit | edit source]
Fossils of Placodontiformes have been found in Europe and China, indicating that they had a wide geographical distribution during the Triassic period. The first fossils were discovered in the early 19th century, and since then, numerous species have been described.
See Also[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD