Mastodonsaurus

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iMastodonsaurus
Fossil range: Middle Triassic
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Superclass: Tetrapoda
Class: Amphibia
Order: Temnospondyli
Family: Mastodonsauridae
Genus: Mastodonsaurus
Species
  • M. cappelensis
  • M. giganteus
  • M. torvus
Mastodonsaurus
Translation "Mastodon lizard"
Type Temnospondyl amphibian
Length 7ft feet long (about 2m)
Movement quadruped/semi-aquatic
Age 235 mya (Middle Triassic)
Diet Carnivore - fishes, small reptiles/therapsids and invertebrates
Environment Swamps, freshwater lake, perhaps the oasis of the desert
Distribution Europe and North Africa

Mastodonsaurus was a large-headed temnospondyl that belonged to a group of advanced, mostly Triassic animals called capitosaurs. It had a short, massive body, stout limbs, a short tail, and a long-jawed powerful skull. Two triangular tusks pointed up from near the tip of its lower jaw. When the jaws closed, these slotted through openings on the palate and projected through the top of the skull. The fossils of some smaller temnospondyls bear tootgh marks made by Mastodonsaurus-like animals. It probably also ate fish, as well as land-living animals, such as small archosaurs.

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