cyamodontoids
Cyamodontoids are an extinct group of placodont marine reptiles that lived during the Triassic period. They are distinguished by their broad, flattened, and often toothless jaws, which were covered in bony plates. This unique dental adaptation is believed to have been used for crushing hard-shelled prey, such as mollusks and crustaceans. The name "cyamodontoid" itself is derived from Greek words meaning "bean tooth," referring to the tooth-like plates found in some members of the group.
Fossils of cyamodontoids have been found primarily in Europe and Asia. These reptiles varied in size, with
The evolutionary history of cyamodontoids is closely tied to the broader placodont lineage, which emerged in