In Depth
Fodonyx is a genus of rynchosaur that lived in England during the early part of the Mid Triassic. The genus was born out of the decision to move a species of the Rhynchosaurus genus on the basis of differences from the type species that by todays taxonomic standards would warrant a new genus as opposed to an additional species. Like other rhynchosaurs, Fodonyx would have been a quadrupedal archosaur that used its chisel like incisor teeth to eat plants.
One of the specimens moved to Fodonyx, a skull, has now been found to represent a genus in its own right, and was used to establish the genus Bentonyx.
Further Reading
- A new genus of Rhynchosaur from the Middle Triassic of South-West England. - Palaeontology 51 (1): 95–115. - David W. E. Hone & Michael J. Benton - 2008. - 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.
