Tessellatia

Tessellatia Temporal range: Late Triassic (mid-Norian), 220–211 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Holotype cranium of Tessellatia in various views and interpretations
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Clade:	Synapsida
Clade:	Therapsida
Clade:	Cynodontia
Clade:	Probainognathia
Genus:	†Tessellatia Gaetano et al., 2022
Species:	†T. bonapartei
Binomial name
†Tessellatia bonapartei Gaetano et al., 2022

Tessellatia is an extinct genus of probainognathian cynodont from the Late Triassic Los Colorados Formation of La Rioja, Argentina. The genus contains a single species, T. bonapartei, known from a partial skull.^[1]

Discovery and naming

Layers of the 'La Esquina' locality of the Los Colorados Formation where the holotype was discovered

The Tessellatia holotype specimen, PULR-V121, was discovered in upper layers of the Los Colorados Formation in Talampaya National Park in La Rioja Province, Argentina. The specimen consists of a partial skull, including the snout and orbital region, and lower jaws.^[1]

In 2022, Gaetano et al. described Tessellatia as a new genus and species of probainognathian cynodont. The generic name, "Tessellatia", is derived from the Latin "tessella" (the individual tiles making up a mosaic), in reference to a conglomerate of basal and derived features seen in the taxon. The specific name, "bonapartei", honors the Argentine paleontologist José F. Bonaparte, who described the first cynodont fossils from the Los Colorados Formation.^[1]

References

1. Gaetano, L. C.; Abdala, F.; Seoane, F. D.; Tartaglione, A.; Schulz, M.; Otero, A.; Leardi, J. M.; Apaldetti, C.; Krapovickas, V.; Steimbach, E. (2022). "A new cynodont from the Upper Triassic Los Colorados Formation (Argentina, South America) reveals a novel paleobiogeographic context for mammalian ancestors". Scientific Reports. 12 (1): Article number 6451. Bibcode:2022NatSR..12.6451G. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-10486-4. PMC 9038739. PMID 35468982.