Helodermoides: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Extinct genus of lizards}}

{{Automatic taxobox

| fossil_range = [[Oligocene]]

| image = Helodermoides tuberculatus AMNH 11311.jpg

| image_widthimage_upright = 250px1.15

| image_caption = Fossil of ''Helodermoides tuberculatus''

| taxon = Helodermoides

| authority = Douglass, 1903

| type_species = {{extinct}}'''''Helodermoides tuberculatus'''''

| type_species_authority = Douglass, 1903

| subdivision_ranks =

| subdivision =

}}

'''''Helodermoides''''' is an extinct [[genus]] of [[anguid]] lizards from the [[Oligocene]] of North America. The genus is [[monotypic]], including only the species '''''Helodermoides tuberculatus'''''. ''Helodermoides'' belongs to an extinct subfamily of anguids called [[Glyptosaurinae]]. In addition to many fragmentary bones, several complete skeletons of ''Helodermoides'' are known. Like other glyptosaurines, ''Helodermoides'' was covered in small scale-like bones called [[osteoderm]]s. The osteoderms covering its skull are hexagonal, tightly interlocking, raised, and rounded.<ref name=SA06>{{Cite journal | last1 = Sullivan | first1 = R. M. | last2 = Augé | first2 = M. |name-list-style=amp | title = Redescription of the holotype ofPlacosaurusof ''Placosaurus rugosus'' rugosusgervaisGervais 1848–1852 (Squamata, Anguidae, Glyptosaurinae) from the Eocene of France and a revision of the genus | journal = Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology | volume = 26 | pages = 127127–132 | year = 2006 | doi = 10.1671/0272-4634(2006)26[127:ROTHOP]2.0.CO;2 | pmidjstor = | pmc =4524542 }}</ref>

One fossil of ''Helodermoides'' preserves a fused mass of osteoderms at the tip of a shortened tail, thought to represent healing after the end of the tail fell off. The tail would not have been able to grow back because the osteoderms formed a thick bony cap preventing growth. The ability to lose a tail, called [[autotomy]], is also present in living [[anguid]]s.<ref name=SRM79>{{cite journal |last=Sullivan |first=R.M. |year=1979 |title=Dermal armor pathology in the tail of a specimen of the fossil lizard ''Helodermoides tuberculatus'' |journal=Herpetologica |volume=35 |issue=3 |pages=278–282}}</ref>

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[[Category:Oligocene lepidosaurs]]

[[Category:Fossil taxa described in 1903]]

{{paleo-lizard-stub}}