Chamops

Chamops is an extinct genus of polyglyphanodontian lizard from the Late Cretaceous of North America. Fossils have been found in the Hell Creek Formation of Montana. It is known from only one species, C. segnis.[1] Chamops grew to approximately 0.5 meters (20 inches) long, and 2 kilograms (4 pounds) in weight. Unlike other polyglyphanodonts, Chamops had a more blunt snout. Chamops belonged to the Chamopsiid family of polyglyphanodonian lizards that lived in the Northern Hemisphere during the Late Cretatceous, although there are some possible Chamopsiid genera from South America and the Kem Kem Bone Beds in Morocco. It was originally thought Chamops and kin are related to whiptails, although it is now thought they are more closely related to iguanas.

Chamops
Temporal range: Late Cretaceous, 66 Ma
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Clade: Polyglyphanodontia
Genus: Chamops
Marsh, 1892
Type species
Chamops segnis
Marsh, 1892
Synonyms
  • Alethesaurus (Gilmore, 1928)
  • Lanceosaurus (Gilmore, 1928)

References

  1. Marsh, O.C. (1892). "Notice of new reptiles from the Laramie formation". American Journal of Science. 43.


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