I neglected to do an animal yesterday, so i'll have to make this one extra weird! Today's animal is! Atopodentatus Unicus! A triassic marine reptile with some bizarre dentition. The original describers theorized that it would be well adapted to an algae eating lifestyle, similar to a marine iguana. This is significant as there is no other prehistoric marine reptile adapted for herbivory.
Artist: https://www.deviantart.com/hyrotrioskjan/art/Atopodentatus-607899577
However their is a competing hypothesis that the adaptations of the creatures jaw would also be fitting for a lifestyle of sifting invertebrates from the sea floor. Research on the animals tooth wear and isotope analysis will be required to figure this out conclusively.
possibly scary looking marine reptile face
Interestingly due to a preservation error in the original specimen this animal was originally reconstructed as such, with a bizarre split upper jaw that was theorized to be used like a walrus's tusks in digging through substrate for prey items. What was actually the case was that specimens hammerhead like mouth had been compressed sideways during fossilization.
Artist: https://www.deviantart.com/malvit/art/Atopodentatus-unicus-432829298
you can see it in the skull of the original fossil specimen
