Procolophonidae (Reptilia: Parareptilia) from the Upper Triassic Wolfville Formation of Nova Scotia, Canada

ABSTRACT

Late Triassic strata of the Wolfville Formation in Nova Scotia, Canada, have yielded numerous cranio-dental remains referable to three new taxa of Procolophonidae: Acadiella psalidodon, Haligonia bolodon, and Scoloparia glyphanodon. Each taxon is diagnosed by distinctive features of its dentition. Contrary to recent claims, the Procolophonidae are polymorphic with regard to the presence or absence of dermal armor. An adult specimen of Scoloparia has a large nuchal “shield” composed of interdigitating osteoderms. A previous report of Leptopleuron from the Wolfville Formation is based on a juvenile individual of Scoloparia. Scoloparia is closely related to, but less derived than, Hypsognathus from the Norian of eastern North America and Leptopleuron from the Carnian of Scotland. The new procolophonid taxa from the Wolfville Formation greatly increase the recorded diversity of this group during the Late Triassic.