Glyphoderma (SciiFii)

Glyphoderma is a genus of placodont reptile from the Middle Triassic of China. It differs from its relative Psephochelys in having three, rather than one, fused osteoderms on the posterior skull surface, and has an earlier temporal range, from the Ladinian epoch rather than the Late Triassic. Otherwise, it is similar in most respects to the other plachochelyids found in China. The name comes from the Greek 'γλυφος', 'sculpture' and 'δερμα', 'skin' referring to its unique carapace structure. The specific name honours a Mr. Kang Ximin.[1]

The holotype, an almost complete skeleton, was found in 2008 in Fuyuan, Yunnan Province of central China in the Falan Formation. It is preserved in a thick block of limestone, and so the ventral side is not well known. The total length is 873 mm.[1]