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Sphenodontia Diversification
Topic Started: Dec 6 2009, 10:31 PM (865 Views)
The Dodo
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Well, I was thinking what if Squamata never evolved and instead Sphenodontia took over their role until the modern day.
Of course things like snakes wouldn't of evolved and the Late Cretaceous seas would be absent of their large predatory Mosasaurs. How do you think Sphenodontia would evolve as well as other animals in the Squamata's absence.
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Rick Raptor
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I can very well imagine a mosasaur equivalent looking similar to Pleurosaurus (an aquatic Sphenodont).

It´s tail would be much longer in comparison to its body than what you see in Mosasaurs.
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Carlos
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I indeed have many concepts for sphenodontian evolution, some of them donated to Spec
Lemuria:
http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/topic/5724950/

Terra Alternativa:
http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/forum/460637/

My Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/Carliro

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The Dodo
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Is there any chance for venom to evolve in them?
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Carlos
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Possibly, though with the teeth fused into the skull and with powerfull jaws as they had its difficult to give venom any utility
Lemuria:
http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/topic/5724950/

Terra Alternativa:
http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/forum/460637/

My Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/Carliro

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The Dodo
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I was also thinking about maybe herbivorous Sphenodonia, I think Tuataras have some ability to chew so what about some having flat grinding teeth to chew vegetation while the front teeth are used to chop of plants.
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Carlos
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Spec did indeed have the idea of beakguanas, herbivorous sphenodontians with turtle like beaks; I wrote essays for several species. Alternatively, rhynchosaur like teeth could evolve, but considering that "teeth" in sphenodontians are actually part of the skull that wouldn't be necessary
Lemuria:
http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/topic/5724950/

Terra Alternativa:
http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/forum/460637/

My Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/Carliro

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The Dodo
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Okay then, I'm using some herbivorous Sphenodontia in my own little project as well as some carnivorous ones.
So what do you think would be a good mosasaur replacement, an aquatic Sphenodontia or a plesiosaur or something?
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Carlos
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Aquatic sphenodontian
Lemuria:
http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/topic/5724950/

Terra Alternativa:
http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/forum/460637/

My Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/Carliro

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The Dodo
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Alright.
An aquatic sphenodontian or a plesiosaur or something?
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