Pamizinsaurus

Pamizinisaurus is a genus of sphenodontian reptile known from Lower Cretaceous (Albian) Tlayúa Formation of central Mexico. It was named Pamizinsaurus tlayuaensis by Reynoso in 1997, after Tlayua Quarry were it was found. It is known from the crushed skeleton of a juvenile individual, with a skull length of around 16 mm, and a total length of about 77 mm. The fossil was covered in small round osteoscutes, unique among known sphenodontians but similar to those of helodermatid lizards like the Gila monster, which probably served to protect it from predators.

Relatives
Reynoso (1997) argued that Pamizinsaurus was a genus of the subfamily Sphenodontinae; grouping it with the modern Sphenodon (better known as the Tuatara), Zapatadon, Cynosphenodon, Homoeosaurus, Sapheosaurus, and Ankylosphenodon. Later papers suggested a derived position among sphenodontians, but with an uncertain relationship to other derived sphenodontians.