Cyamodus (SciiFii)

Cyamodus robustus is a species of placodont that originally lived in Germany during the Middle Triassic as an extinct species of Cyamodus and the genus itself was once extinct, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii and now lives in the Triassic Dinosaurs section of Cretaceous Park located at Sacramento, California. Cyamodus robustus is a heavily armored swimmer, reaching almost 1.4 meters (4.6 feet) long, that feeds mainly on shellfish and it is specialized to uproot and crush with its powerful jaws. The body of Cyamodus robustus, specifically the armor, has been described as possessing a turtle-like flatness. The shell is a two-part carapace on the upper surface of the body. The larger half covers Cyamodus robustus from the neck to the hips and spread out flat, almost encompassing the limbs. The second, smaller plate covers the hips and the base of the tail. The shells themselves are covered in hexagonal or circular plates of armor. The skull is heart-shaped and broad. Distinct from Paraplacodus, the skull of Cyamodus robustus has a shorter rostrum, a smaller orbit and a larger upper temporal fenestra that is rimmed by ossifications. The teeth are flat discs, only one tooth appears on each premaxilla and only two teeth appears on each maxilla, with the largest teeth on the pterygoid. The quadratojugal joins the squamosal and seals up the lateral temporal fenestra from the ancestral genus (Paraplacodus). The carapace of Cyamodus robustus has a series of similar-sized, enlarged lateral armor plates is rounder and less laterally expanded than hypothesized. The separate pelvic shield, also carrying a smaller set of lateral armor plates that decrease in size with an anterior/posterior gradient covering mainly the pelvic girdle and the base of the tail. The short tail is armored by four series of armor plates that also show an anterior/posterior gradient of size reduction equivalent to the size reduction of the caudal vertebrae. It is normally a solitary animal that only interact with others of its own species during mating seasons. The lifecycle of the Cyamodus robustus is very similar to a gharial and a wading bird.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii