Lepidosauria

(vertebrate zoology) A subclass of reptiles in which the skull structure is characterized by two temporal openings on each side which have reduced bony arcades, and by the lack of an antorbital opening in front of the orbit.

A subclass of reptiles, both living and extinct, in which the structure of the skull is characterized by two temporal openings (diapsid condition) on each side. Lepidosauria differ from Archosauria, which are also diapsid, in that the bony arcades bordering their temporal openings may suffer reduction or loss, causing the apparent disappearance of one or both openings. They differ also in that no lepidosaur skull has any antorbital opening in front of the orbit, and in that their teeth are typically fused to the jaw (acrodont or pleurodont) rather than implanted in sockets (thecodont). See also Archosauria.

In the classification adopted here the Lepidosauria include three orders: Eosuchia, Rhynchocephalia, and Squamata. See also Eosuchia; Reptilia; Squamata.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: diapsid reptiles: lizards; snakes; tuataras
  Synonym: subclass Lepidosauria

Lepidosaurians Fossil range: Triassic - Recent
A Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Subclass: Diapsida Infraclass: Lepidosauromorpha Superorder: Lepidosauria
Orders
Squamata Sphenodontia

The Lepidosauria are reptiles with overlapping scales. They include the tuataras, lizards, snakes and amphisbaenians. Lepidosaurians are the most successful of modern reptiles.

Lepidosauria is a superorder of Sauropsida and comprises the orders :

• Squamata
• Sphenodontia / Rhynchocephalia

External links

• http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/pictures/Lepidosauria.html
• Reptile taxonomy, Benton 2004
• Lepidosaur phylogeny

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)