Kyrgyzsaurus

Kyrgyzsaurus Temporal range: Middle-Upper Triassic, 230–225 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Restoration
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Clade:	†Drepanosauromorpha
Family:	†Drepanosauridae
Genus:	†Kyrgyzsaurus Alifanov & Kurochkin, 2011
Species:	†K. bukhanchenkoi
Binomial name
†Kyrgyzsaurus bukhanchenkoi Alifanov & Kurochkin, 2011

Kyrgyzsaurus (meaning "lizard from Kyrgyzstan") is an extinct genus of drepanosaurid reptile known from the Triassic of southwestern Kyrgyzstan.[1] It was discovered in the Madygen Formation.

Discovery

Kyrgyzsaurus is known only from the holotype specimen, which includes the anterior part of the skeleton including the skull, cervical and anterior dorsal vertebrae, ribs, pectoral girdle and skin imprints. The holotype was collected from the Madygen Formation, dating to the late Carnian or early Ladinian stage of the late Middle or early Late Triassic period, about 230-225 million years ago. Thus, it represents the oldest known drepanosaurid. Kyrgyzsaurus was also the first Asian drepanosaurid genus to be named.[1]

Etymology

Kyrgyzsaurus was first named by V. R. Alifanov and E. N. Kurochkin in 2011, with the type species Kyrgyzsaurus bukhanchenkoi. The generic name is derived from the name of Kyrgyzstan, and from Greek sauros, "lizard"; thus, the name means "Kyrgyzstan's lizard." The specific name honors Bukhanchenko for finding the holotype.[1]

References

1. Alifanov, V.R.; Kurochkin, E.N. (2011). "Kyrgyzsaurus bukhanchenkoi gen. et sp. nov., a new reptile from the triassic of southwestern Kyrgyzstan". Paleontological Journal. 45 (6): 639–647. doi:10.1134/s0031030111060025. ISSN 0031-0301. S2CID 84563146.