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Paramacellodidae

Paramacellodidae
Temporal range: Middle JurassicEarly Cretaceous, 170–100 Ma
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Infraorder: Scincomorpha
Family: Paramacellodidae
Estes, 1983
Genera

?Atokasaurus
Becklesius
Mimobecklesisaurus
Paramacellodus
?Parasaurillus
?Pseudosaurillus
Sharovisaurus


?Atokasaurus
Becklesius
Mimobecklesisaurus
Paramacellodus
?Parasaurillus
?Pseudosaurillus
Sharovisaurus

Paramacellodidae is an extinct family of scincomorph lizards that first appeared in the Middle Jurassic around 170 million years ago (Ma) and became extinct in the Early Cretaceous about 100 Ma. It was one of the earliest groups of lizards to have undergone an evolutionary radiation, with members found across the supercontinent Laurasia. The phylogenetic relationships and constituent species of Paramacellodidae are uncertain. Many studies regard it to be closely related to Scincoidea, a large group that includes skinks and their closest extinct relatives, and possibly also to Cordyoidea, a group that includes spinytail lizards and relatives. Like modern skinks, paramacelloidids had rectangular bony plates called osteoderms covering most of their bodies, including their backs, undersides, and tails. They also had short and robust limbs.


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Wikipedia

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