Sphenovipera

Sphenovipera
Temporal range:
A silhouette showing the jaw of Sphenovipera in medial view
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Rhynchocephalia
Family: Sphenodontidae
Genus: Sphenovipera
Reynoso, 2005
Species
  • S. jimmysjoyi Reynoso, 2005

Sphenovipera jimmysjoyi is an extinct species of sphenodontian dated from the Jurassic. If was discovered in the lower part of the La Boca Formation located in Tamaulipas, Mexico. Only the lower jaw of this organism has been discovered and studied. It is possibly the only species of rhynchocephalian yet discovered to show evidence of venom delivery. The material was originally described as Middle Jurassic in age but La Boca Formation is now considered Early Jurassic in age.