Paarthurnax

This article is about the crocodyliform. For the fictional dragon, see The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim § Plot.

Paarthurnax
Temporal range: Early Cretaceous,
The skull of Paarthurnax in dorsal and ventral view
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Clade: Pseudosuchia
Clade: Crocodylomorpha
Family: †Goniopholididae
Genus: †Paarthurnax
Platt, Adams & Brochu, 2025
Species:
†P. holliensis
Binomial name
†Paarthurnax holliensis
Platt, Adams & Brochu, 2025

Paarthurnax is an extinct genus of goniopholidid crocodyliform from the Early Cretaceous Holly Creek Formation of southwest Arkansas. It was described in 2025 on the basis of a nearly complete skull and named after the fictional dragon of the same name from the video game The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Phylogenetic analysis places the genus in the family Goniopholididae, closely related to the Late Cretaceous Denazinosuchus. The results of this analysis suggests that members of this group were more widespread throughout Cretaceous North America than had been previously believed. The genus Paarthurnax is monotypic, meaning it only includes a single species: Paarthurnax holliensis.

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