Mastodonsaurus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article does not cite any references or sources. (June 2007)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Mastodonsaurus
Fossil range: Middle Triassic

Mastodonsaurus torvus

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Superclass:	Tetrapoda
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Temnospondyli
Family:	Mastodonsauridae
Genus:	Mastodonsaurus

Species

M. perrini
M. acuminatus
M. andriani
M. arenaceus (Capitosaurus arenaceus)
M. cappelensis (Heptasaurus cappelensis)
M. cyclotis
M. durus
M. giganteus
M. granulosus
M. indicus
M. ingens
M. jaegeri
M. keuperinus
M. laniarius
M. lavisi
M. leptognathus
M. maximus
M. meyeri
M. pachygnathus
M. robustus
M. silesiacus
M. torvus
M. vaslenensis
M. ventricosus
M. weigelti

Mastodonsaurus was a large-headed temnospondyl that belonged to a group of advanced, mostly Triassic animals called capitosaurs. Originally it was thought that it had a short, massive body, stout limbs, a short tail, and a long-jawed powerful skull. More recent studies showed, however, that its body was less compact and the tail much longer, giving it an overall-appearance much like a crocodile. 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 tooth marks made by Mastodonsaurus-like animals. It probably also ate fish, as well as land-living animals, such as small archosaurs.