A new cyamodontoid placodont from Triassic of Guizhou, China

A new cyamodontoid placodont is named (Psephochelys polyosteoderma gen. et. sp. nov.) and described based on a three-dimensionally preserved specimen. The material comes from the Wayao Member of the Falang Formation (Carnian, Late Triassic) in Guizhou Province, southwestern China. The skull of Psephochelys shows a unique combination of characteristics observed in Psephoderma and Placochelys, and the carapace is diagnostic of a new taxon as well. The ventral dermal armor of Psephochelys differs from all other known cyamodontoids in that it comprises irregular marginal osteoderms in loose contact with each other, and gastralia between them. The cranial suture pattern is in part difficult to analyze due to apparent co-ossification of elements, or poor delimitation of sutures.This affects primarily the demarcation of the nasal from the prefrontal, and the relation between the anterior part of the parietal, posterior ends of the frontals, and postfrontals.However, the postfrontal appears to enter the anteromedial margin of the upper temporal fenestra, a characteristic otherwise known from Placodus, but not from other cyamodontoids. However, given the difficulties of interpretation of this skull, additional material is required to unequivocally assess some details of the pattern of cranial sutures.