Odontognathus

Odontognathus is a genus of extinct marine reptiles that belonged to the order Placodontia, a group of primarily marine reptiles that thrived during the Middle Triassic period. Fossils attributed to this genus have been recovered from marine sedimentary deposits in Europe, particularly in the famous Middle Triassic strata of the German Bunter Sandstone and the Italian Dolomites.

The most distinctive feature of Odontognathus is its specialized dentition, which includes a series of large, conical teeth adapted for crushing hard-shelled prey. This dentition, along with its broad, flattened skull and reinforced ribs, suggests a predominantly durophagous diet, feeding on mollusks and other marine invertebrates. Comparative anatomy places the creature within the podocnemidid-like placodont clade, indicating a strongly marine lifestyle.

Stratigraphic evidence places Odontognathus in the Anisian stage of the Middle Triassic, approximately 247–242 million years ago. The genus is represented by a handful of well-preserved specimens, most of which are housed in European paleontological institutions such as the Natural History Museum in Berlin and the Museo Nazionale in Rome. Despite the limited material, the study of Odontognathus contributes valuable insights into the recovery of marine ecosystems after the end-Permian extinction, illustrating the rapid diversification of reptilian marine niches during the Middle Triassic.