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Euschizus veterinarius
- Kingdom
- Microsynthera
- Phylum
- Plasticae
- Class
- Occlupanida
- Order
- Orthogonidectes
- Family
- Archignathidae
- Genus
- Euschizus
- Species
- E. veterinarius
- External morphology
Integument smooth on one side, and textured on the other. 21 mm x 25 mm.
This incredibly rectangular archignathid was discovered by occlupanologist A. Leu on a bag of bandage padding in a Tennessee veterinary clinic. Of particular note is the primitive raptorial stricture; a simple asymmetric division between oral grooves, as opposed to a more developed set of oral hooks. This curious morphology evokes images of the “Hypothetical Ancestral Occlupanid” debated by scholars since the dawn of occlupanology. Could this recent species have a connection to the rise of orthogonodectids? Or are we witnessing a fusing of oral grooves, as some have theorized regarding the Fusoridae? Its oral groove and integument also sheds more light on another tantalizing mystery- that of Cryptocolax lilidonum, which shares similar characteristics.