Deuterosaurus
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D. biarmicus |
Deuterosaurus is a genus of the Therapsids, the so called “mammal-like” reptiles dominating land during the late Palaeozoic.
[edit] Anatomy
The Deuterosaurus skull is well known from several finds. It was around 80 cm (2 ft 6”) with a long snout and conical teeth. Like all anteosaurs, the skull possessed long, dagger like canine teeth. The skull was rather short for an antosaur, with a broad cheek region, indicating a very strong bite. The eyes where partly slanted forward, giving it at least partial stereo vision. The pineal eye, though small, had a well formed opening right atop the brain case.
The Deuterosaurus was a very large animal, the size of a modern grizzly bear. T. H. Huxley mistakenly considered it to be a dinosaur ([1]). With its long tail, it had an adult length of 5-6 meters (15-18 ft) and weighted around half a ton. Judging from related therapsids, the short but massive legs where held sprawling, much like a modern crocodile. When walking, the tail would have swung sideways, like in modern reptiles.
[edit] Biology
Deuterosaurus is found in what is now Siberia, which in the Permian was dominated by temperate lowlands. Deuterosaurus was among the largest animals of its day, and has variously been interpreted as a herbivore or carnivore. While the large canines may indicate the ability to kill prey, the short legs and massive body would have made it unsuited as a long distance runner, and better suited to eating plants. Then again, the possible stereoscopic vision again indicate an ambush style carnivore, and the rather blunt, cone-like post canine teeth can be interpreted bout ways. Possibly, the Deuterosaurus was omnivorous, like a modern bear.
The Deuterosaurus, like all its therapsid cousins, laid eggs. A remarkable thickening of the skull above the eyes, indicate it may have engaged in head-butting, possibly in connection with mating or territorial disputes.
