Kenyasaurus Temporal range: Early Triassic |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Clade: | Neodiapsida |
Genus: |
†Kenyasaurus Harris & Carroll, 1977 |
Type species | |
†Kenyasaurus mariakaniensis Harris & Carroll, 1977 |
Kenyasaurus is an extinct genus of basal neodiapsid, possibly tangasaurid, known from the Early Triassic period of Coast Province, southeastern Kenya. It contains a single species, Kenyasaurus mariakaniensis.
Kenyasaurus is known only from the holotype specimen, KNM-MA1, a well preserved and partially complete postcranial skeleton, lacking much of the neck, pectoral girdle and forelimb, which is hosted at the Kenya National Museum. It was found at the Mariakani locality which is located 25 miles from Mombasa, southeastern Kenya. It was collected from the upper part of the Maji ya Chumvi Beds (Maji-Ya-Chumvi Formation). These beds form the lower part of the Middle Duruma Sandstone Series (Duruma Group) and on the basis of lithological similarities with beds in Tanzania and Madagascar were dated to the Induan and Olenekian stages of the Early Triassic period, about 251.0-245 million years ago. This specimen represents the only reptilian fossils currently known from these beds.