beddomii

Beddomii is a genus of extinct reptiles that lived during the Early Triassic period. Fossils of Beddomii have been found in India. The genus was first described in 1904 by Richard Lydekker, who named it in honor of Richard Beddome, a British soldier and naturalist who collected many fossils in India.

The remains attributed to Beddomii are fragmentary, making precise classification challenging. However, available evidence suggests they were small to medium-sized animals. Their exact phylogenetic position is debated among paleontologists, but they are generally considered to be among the early archosauriforms or closely related to them. Archosauriforms are a group that includes crocodiles, birds, and dinosaurs.

The discovery of Beddomii is significant for understanding the diversification of reptiles in the aftermath of the Permian-Triassic extinction event, the most severe extinction in Earth's history. The Early Triassic was a critical period for the recovery and evolution of terrestrial ecosystems, and fossils like Beddomii provide valuable insights into the fauna that inhabited the world at that time. Further research and discoveries may help to clarify the evolutionary relationships and ecological roles of this ancient reptile.