Eolacertilia
Encyclopedia
Eolacertilia is a group of extinct
diapsid
reptiles that may be the ancestors of snakes and lizards
. It is uncertain as to whether they are a natural group and it has been suggested that they form a "waste basket" taxon.
Extinction
In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
diapsid
Diapsid
Diapsids are a group of reptiles that developed two holes in each side of their skulls, about 300 million years ago during the late Carboniferous period. Living diapsids are extremely diverse, and include all crocodiles, lizards, snakes, and tuatara...
reptiles that may be the ancestors of snakes and lizards
Squamata
Squamata, or the scaled reptiles, is the largest recent order of reptiles, including lizards and snakes. Members of the order are distinguished by their skins, which bear horny scales or shields. They also possess movable quadrate bones, making it possible to move the upper jaw relative to the...
. It is uncertain as to whether they are a natural group and it has been suggested that they form a "waste basket" taxon.