turuarendus

Turuarendus is a genus of extinct reptiles belonging to the group Sauria. Fossil remains attributed to Turuarendus have been found in the Late Cretaceous geological formations of Brazil. The type species, Turuarendus fernandoi, was described in 2004. The name Turuarendus is derived from the Tupi language, meaning "thunder lizard" or "lizard of thunder."

The fossils of Turuarendus suggest it was a medium-sized quadrupedal reptile. Its exact phylogenetic position within Sauria has been a subject of ongoing research and debate among paleontologists. Initial studies placed it within a broader group of squamates, but its precise relationships to other known fossil and extant reptiles are still being clarified. The discovery of Turuarendus contributes to our understanding of the diversity of reptiles that inhabited South America during the Cretaceous period. Further discoveries and detailed analysis of its skeletal anatomy are expected to provide more definitive insights into its evolutionary history and ecological role.