Name: Bentonyx
(Bentons' claw, named after Michael J. Benton).
Phonetic: Ben-ton-iks.
Named By: M. C. Langer, F. C.
Montefeltro, D. W. E. Hone, R. Whatley & C.
L. Schultz - 2010.
Classification: Chordata, Reptilia,
Archosauromorpha, Rhynchosauria, Hyperodapedontidae.
Species: B. sidensis (type).
Diet: Herbivore.
Size: Uncertain due to lack of remains.
Known locations: England, Devon - Otter
Sandstone Formation.
Time period: Anisian of the Triassic.
Fossil representation: Skull.
The
establishment of Bentonyx as a genus actually began
in 2008 when a
species of Rhynchosaurus,
R. spenceri was
re-named as its own genus
called Fodonyx.
Further study into the fossils that went into
establishing the Fodonyx genus found that one of
the skulls was
actually different. In 2010 this skull was split away from
Fodonyx and used to establish the genus Bentonyx.
Bentonyx
means ‘Bentons’ claw’, and is in honour of Michael J.
Benton, one of the authors who established the earlier Fodonyx
genus
which led to the subsequent discovery of Bentonyx.
Further reading
- On Fodonyx spenceri and a new rhynchosaur from
the Middle Triassic
of Devon. - Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology
30(6):1884-1888. - M. C. Langer, F. C. Montefeltro,
D. W. E. Hone, R. Whatley & C. L. Schultz -
2010.
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