Orovenator

Orovenator Temporal range: Sakmarian, 289 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Clade:	Neodiapsida
Genus:	†Orovenator Reisz, Modesto & Scott, 2011
Type species
†Orovenator mayorum Reisz et al., 2011

Orovenator is an extinct genus of diapsid from Lower Permian (Sakmarian stage) deposits of Oklahoma, USA. It is known from two partial skulls from the Richards Spur locality in Oklahoma. The holotype OMNH 74606 consists of a partial skull preserving snout and mandible, and the referred specimen, OMNH 74607, a partial skull preserving the skull roof, vertebrae and palatal elements. It was first named by Robert R. Reisz, Sean P. Modesto and Diane M. Scott in 2011 and the type species is Orovenator mayorum. The generic name means "mountain", oro, in Greek in reference to the Richards Spur locality, which was mountainous during the Permian period and "hunter", venator, in Latin. The specific name honours Bill and Julie May. Orovenator is the oldest and most basal neodiapsid to date.

Phylogeny

Cladogram after Reisz, Modesto & Scott, 2011:

	Captorhinidae Diapsida Araeoscelidia Neodiapsida Orovenator Lanthanolania Tangasauridae Tangasaurus Acerosodontosaurus Hovasaurus Younginidae Thadeosaurus Youngina Claudiosaurus Sauria Archosauromorpha Lepidosauromorpha