Brachyrhinodon

Brachyrhinodon (meaning "short nose tooth") is an extinct genus of sphenodontian from the Late Triassic Lossiemouth Sandstone of Scotland.

Brachyrhinodon and its single species B. taylori originally described in 1910 by German paleontologist Friedrich von Huene based on three specimens found near Elgin, Scotland where a number of reptile fossils (collectively dubbed the "Elgin Reptiles") have been found.

The species was later redescribed in 1989 based on 12 specimens, representing at least 10 individuals.

The specimens are largely preserved as negative moulds within the sandstone, which meant that casts needed to be made for description.

Some studies have recovered it as closely related to Clevosaurus, placing both genera as part of the family Clevosauridae,[2][3] with some studies finding B. taylori nested within Clevosaurus.

Skull diagram in side-on and top-down views
Life restoration