Longisquama
| Longisquama Temporal range: Middle or Late Triassic,
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|---|---|
| Cast of the type specimen | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Clade: | †Drepanosauromorpha |
| Genus: | †Longisquama Sharov, 1970 |
| Species: | †L. insignis
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| Binomial name | |
| †Longisquama insignis Sharov, 1970
| |
Longisquama is a genus of extinct reptile containing only one species, L. insignis, known from a poorly preserved skeleton and several incomplete fossil impressions from the Middle to Late Triassic Madygen Formation of Kyrgyzstan. The generic name means "long scales", and the specific name insignis means "unusual", in Latin. The holotype is notable for a number of long structures that appear to grow from its skin. The current opinion is that Longisquama is an ambiguous diapsid, potentially a drepanosauromorph, and has no bearing on the origin of birds.