Many of the lower jaw bones have a weird toothless tip and featureless symphysis. Perhaps the halves of the jaw were connected flexibly to help jaw movements and aid close tooth-on-tooth contact during chewing or providing shock-absorption💀 3/4

This is based on tiny partial remains from Carnian-Norian age fissure fills from Cromhall Quarry, SW England. The upper jaw has a highly reduced tooth count of large 3-cusped teeth, distinct and more complex than many other procolophonids🦷 2/4

🦎Threordatoth chasmatos🦎 a new Late Triassic procolophonid in Papers in Palaeontology with @richardjbutler.bsky.social @marcehjones.bsky.social and Nick Fraser showing unique features of the jaw and teeth 🦷🦷https://doi.org/10.1002/spp2.1605 Reconstruction by @markwitton.bsky.social 1/4 #fossilfriday