Caninosaurus

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Caninosaurus is an extinct lizard from the Late Cretaceous period in what is now China. It’s part of a group of lizards called polyglyphanodontians. The only species known is Caninosaurus ganzhouensis.

Scientists found a partial skull and jaw near Ganzhou city in Jiangxi Province. The main fossil, the holotype labeled CUGW VH110, shows the front part of the skull and mandible, with the back of the skull missing and the left side still buried in rock. It was described in 2025 by Wang and colleagues.

The name Caninosaurus means “canine lizard,” reflecting its unusually large canine-like tooth in the fourth position of the upper jaw. The species name ganzhouensis honors Ganzhou city.

In their analysis, Caninosaurus is related to Tianyusaurus within a small subgroup of South Chinese polyglyphanodontians. A notable shared feature is a long, strong lower temporal bar behind the eye, formed by the jugal bone—an unusual trait among lizards.