Nycteroleteridae

Nycteroleterids
Temporal range: Middle Permian,
Adult and juvenile skulls of Macroleter (=Tokosaurus)
Life restoration of Emeroleter
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Parareptilia
Order: Procolophonomorpha
Clade: Pareiasauromorpha
Family: Nycteroleteridae
Romer, 1956
Genera
  • See text

Nycteroleteridae is a family of procolophonian parareptilians (extinct early reptiles) from the Middle to Late Permian of Russia and North America. They are sometimes classified as a sister group to pareiasaurids (but see Classification). The group includes the genera Macroleter, Bashkyroleter, "Bashkyroleter" mesensis, Nycteroleter, Emeroleter, and probably Rhipaeosaurus. They were carnivorous, and occasionally ate insects. The group was most common in European Russia, with only a few fossils in North America. One fossil has also been found in Africa, but this is the only one from Gondwana.