Description

Late Triassic

Chinle Formation

Northwestern New Mexico, USA

Superb 1.3 inch scute.

Reptile.

Scutes make up the defensive armor of some extinct and modern reptiles.  Single specimens are often not distinctive enough to identify to genus or family, especially in Triassic terrestrial deposits in which a number of reptiles bear scutes.  However, they are interesting specimens to add to a collection as they are less common than teeth.