Helodermoides: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:51, 15 April 2020

Revision as of 16:32, 20 November 2020

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{{Automatic taxobox

| fossil_range = [[Oligocene]]ok jjdjd

| image = Helodermoides tuberculatus AMNH 11311.jpg

| image_upright = 1.15

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'''''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 rugosusgervais''Placosaurus'' rugosus Gervais 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 | jstor = 4524542 | pmid = | pmc = }}</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>