Estemmenosuchus uralensis
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| Estemmenosuchus uralensis Tchudinov, 1960 |
Estemmenosuchus uralensis ("Crowned Crocodile of the Ural Mountains") was a large herbivourous dinocephalian therapsid from Ocher in the Perm region or Russia, 255 million years ago. It is sometimes called the crowned crocodile. It is the second most primitive therapsid after the Biarmosuchia. The species was found with the Biarmosuchians Eotitanosuchus olsoni and Biarmosuchus tener and with a related species Estemmenosuchus mirabilis in channel flood deposits of the young Ural Mountains.
The characteristics of the species are the horns projecting upwards and outwards on the side of the head. The mouth contained Large canines followed by small molar teeth. The animal had a sprawling posture as the analysis of the shoulder joints.
It has been suggested that the animal was warm blooded , as its large size (4-5 metres long) and small surface area could have been used like warm blooded mammal. But other scientist believe it is cold blooded like reptile's today. It has been Also suggested that it was also a carnivore, but the consensus of views is that Estimemosuchus was a herbivore.
[edit] References
- Patricia Vickers-Rich and Thomas H. Rich, The Great Russian Dinosaurs, Guntar Graphics, 1993, p. 29.
[edit] External links
- Forum information
- Skeletal analysis
- The Biarmosuchian - Estemennosuchian Terrestrial empire
- Palaeos - technical description
