Xiphodracon
| Xiphodracon Temporal range: Early Jurassic,
| |
|---|---|
| Holotype skeleton and skull | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | †Ichthyosauria |
| Family: | †Leptonectidae |
| Clade: | †Hauffiopterygia |
| Genus: | †Xiphodracon Lomax, Massare & Maxwell, 2025 |
| Species: | †X. goldencapensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| †Xiphodracon goldencapensis Lomax, Massare & Maxwell, 2025
| |
Xiphodracon (lit. 'sword-like dragon') is an extinct genus of leptonectid ichthyosaurian known from the Early Jurassic (Pliensbachian age) Charmouth Mudstone Formation (Lias Group) of the United Kingdom. The genus contains a single species, Xiphodracon goldencapensis, known from a nearly complete skull and skeleton. This specimen represents the most complete ichthyosaur known from the Pliensbachian age. Xiphodracon is a close relative of Hauffiopteryx within the clade Hauffiopterygia.