Taipuda

Taipúda, also known as Taipuda, is an extinct genus of prehistoric lizards that lived during the Carnian stage of the Triassic period. They inhabited the Northern Hemisphere, specifically in Europe and North America.

Taipuda is a genus of plesiosaurodont lizards, which were characterized by their terrestrial habit and heterodont dentition. The name 'Taipúda' is derived from the Greek word 'taipodes', meaning bare foot, and 'uda', a suffix indicating a place or location. This likely refers to the fact that Taipuda fossils were first discovered in Spain.

Taipuda fossils were first described by the paleontologist E.L. Stájer in 1910. The species Taipuda analges was the first to be known, with further discoveries confirming its presence in Spain. The most notable discovery was made in 1989, when a nearly complete skeleton was unearthed in the province of Aragon, Spain. This fossil confirmed the terrestrial habits of the Taipuda.

Taipuda lizards were medium-sized vertebrates, reaching lengths of approximately 1 meter. They possessed a long, slender body, a distinctive pair of claws, and strong limbs for terrestrial locomotion. Their teeth were modified, with some species exhibiting highly specialized dentition patterns. Fossil evidence also suggests that Taipuda fed on terrestrial invertebrates and possibly small vertebrates.

Despite the significant discoveries of Taipuda fossils, the species remains poorly understood. Further research is required to elucidate the paleoecology of this genus and the significance of its biogeographical location during the early Triassic period.