Near the posterior edge of the internal naris they bifurcate. The seal is based on a painting done by Prince Naris. The function of the naris remains largely unresolved. The palatal fenestra of the lower caniniform merges with the internal naris. No septomaxilla is evident, but the premaxilla is fragile in comparison to the large naris. It had a lightly built skull with a slightly enlarged external naris. The maxillary teeth are inset medially and project below the internal naris. The external naris was large and retracted. The position of the external naris is about half way along the skull. Another diagnostic characteristic is the near-exclusion of the nasals from the external naris. The dilator naris helps to form the upper ridge of the philtrum. The external naris is close to the margin of the upper jaw. Nares is the plural of "naris", meaning nostril. The premaxilla forms the dorsal edge of the external naris, like "Pliosaurus" and "Rhomaleosaurus". Above the naris, the nasal bone forms a conspicuous lateral 'wing'.