Tecovasaurus is an extinct group of reptiles that lived during the Late Triassic period, around 221.5 to 212 million years ago.
This ancient creature was discovered in the Tecovas Formation, which is located in Texas and Arizona. The name “Tecovasaurus” means “Tecovas lizard,” named after the area where its fossils were found.
What we know about Tecovasaurus mostly comes from its teeth. These teeth are unique and tell us that it might have been related to several different groups of reptiles. At first, scientists thought it was a type of early dinosaur called an ornithischian. However, further studies showed that it was more closely related to a group called Archosauriformes, which includes various reptiles like dinosaurs and crocodiles.
Scientists have tried to classify Tecovasaurus based on its teeth. They found that its teeth have similar features to those of a group called traversodontid cynodonts, which were early relatives of mammals. This means that Tecovasaurus is still a bit of a mystery in terms of its exact place on the family tree of reptiles.
Overall, Tecovasaurus adds to the fascinating story of reptile evolution in a time long before dinosaurs ruled the Earth.