Younginiformes · Lablypedia

In a nutshell

Younginiformes is a group of diapsid reptiles known from the Permian-Triassic of Africa and Madagascar. It has been used as a replacement for "Eosuchia". Younginiformes (including Acerosodontosaurus, Hovasaurus, Kenyasaurus, Tangasaurus, Thadeosaurus and Youngina) were historically suggested to be lepidosauromorphs, but are currently thought to be basal non-saurian neodiapsids. The group is sometimes divided into two families, Tangasauridae and Younginidae. The monophyly of the group is disputed. A 2009 study found them to be an unresolved polytomy at the base of Neodiapsida, while a 2011 study recovered the group as paraphyletic. A 2022 study recovered the Younginiformes as a monophyletic group of basal neodiapsid reptiles, also including Claudiosaurus and Saurosternon as part of the group. Some younginiforms like Hovasaurus and Acerosodontosaurus are thought to have had an amphibious lifestyle, while others like Kenyasaurus, Thadeosaurus and Youngina were probably terrestrial.

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Through Basal (phylogenetics)

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Classification

Included genera:

Tangasauridae
- Acerosodontosaurus Currie, 1980
- Hovasaurus Piveteau, 1926
- Kenyasaurus Harris & Carroll, 1977
- Saurosternon? Huxley, 1868
- Tangasaurus Haughton, 1924
Younginidae
- Claudiosaurus? Carroll, 1981
- Heleosuchus? Owen, 1876
- Thadeosaurus Carroll, 1981
- Youngina Broom, 1914

2011 phylogeny showing a paraphyletic Younginiformes:

Phylogeny of Younginiformes from Simões et al. 2022:

More in Animals

Monotypic taxonTaxonomic group with only one subordinate taxon Species descriptionFormal description of a discovered species ParaphylyType of taxonomic group IUCN Red ListInventory of the global conservation status of biological species SubtropicsGeographic and climate zone Common nameName generally used for a taxon, group of taxa or organism(s)