Araeoscelis is an extinct genus of diapsid reptile, one of the first diapsids (after Petrolacosaurus). It was about 60 cm (2 ft) long. It has been found in Texas, USA.

Araeoscelis resembled a lizard and differed from its ancestor by its teeth- they were adapted for a more specialized diet. The teeth were bigger and blunter than Petrolacosaurus`; possibly they were used for cracking insect carapaces.

Notably, the design of Araeosceliss skull was also different: contrary to its close relatives which exhibit the two pairs of skull openings characteristic of diapsids, in Araeoscelis the lower pair of temporal fenestrae were closed with bone, resulting in an euryapsid condition. Possibly the effect is to solidify the skull, allowing a more powerful bite.

References

it:Araeoscelis nl:Araeoscelis pl:Areoscelis zh:???

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