From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Protorosaurus |
| Translation |
first lizard |
| Type |
basal archosaur |
| Length |
6 ft 8 in (2 m) |
| Movement |
quadruped |
| Age |
250 million years ago |
| Diet |
carnivore |
| Distribution |
Germany |
Protorosaurus, a lizard-like reptile of the order Prolacertiformes, is the earliest known archosauromorph. It lived during the Late Permian period in Germany, and grew up to 2 meters (6 feet) in length.
In 1914, a new ceratopsian dinosaur found by Lawrence Lambe was again given the name Protorosaurus (in this sense meaning "before Torosaurus"). When Lambe found that the name had already been used for the early archosauromorph, he re-named his ceratopsian to Chasmosaurus.
