Procolophon

Procolophon Temporal range: Late Permian–Late Triassic PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Procolophon pricei from the Early Triassic of South Africa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Sauropsida
Order:	Procolophonomorpha
Family:	Procolophonidae
Genus:	Procolophon
Species
P. brasiliensis P. pricei P. trigoniceps

Procolophon was a genus of lizard-like procolophonid reptiles with at least eight species that persisted through the Permian–Triassic extinction event, but became extinct in the later Triassic.

Procolophon reached a length up to 30 cm.^[1] The skull was solid but some species did evolve a temporal fenestra in the skull independently of other reptiles. There was one backward facing cheek spike, but its function is debated; it may have been for muscle attachment. Eyes were large and may have had acute day or night vision. The teeth were peg-like and suitable for crushing of plant matter. The front of the skull was short and blunt with the nasal opening very close to the mouth.

The vertebrae were robust with a rounded rib cage composed of many small weak ribs. Legs were short, thickly built with short phalanges; this suggests an animal that burrowed and did not run fast.

Species

P. brasiliensis

P. brasiliensis is distinguished from other representatives of the genus by the character of the dentition and vomeronasal. It was found in Brazil, in the geopark of Paleorrota in the Sanga do Cabral Formation.

P. pricei

P. pricei has been found in South Africa, Antarctica, and Brazil, where it is known from the geopark of Paleorrota, in the Sanga do Cabral Formation of the municipality of Dilermando de Aguiar. It lived during the Early Triassic (about 250 to 240 million years).

P. trigoniceps

P. trigoniceps has been found in South Africa, Antarctica and Brazil; in the Geopark of Paleorrota in the Sanga do Cabral Formation.

References

• Procolophon braziliense
• Procolophon trigoniceps
• Paleobiology Database
• Skull of P. pricei.
• Cast of the skull from South Africa.
• The Triassic reptile Procolophon in Antarctica.
• (German)Artistic impression
• Upper skull
• Scientific evaluation for the genus.
• D.Lambert, D. Naish and E. Wyse 2001, "Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and prehistoric life", p. 76, Dorling Kindersley Limited, London. ISBN 0-7513-0955-9

v t e Fauna and Flora of Paleorrota Geopark Rio Grande do Sul Fauna Aetosaurs Stagonolepis Archosaurs Barberenachampsa nodosa Barberenasuchus brasiliensis Cerritosaurus Chanaresuchus Decuriasuchus Fitossauros Karamuru vorax Prestosuchus chiniquensis Procerosuchus Proterochampsa nodosa Protorosaurus Rauisuchus tiradentes Rhadinosuchus gracilis Spondylosoma Teyumbaita sulcognathus Teyuwasu Cynodonts Belesodon magnificus Brasilitherium Brasilodon Candelariodon Chiniquodon Charruodon Tetracuspidatus Exaeretodon riograndensis Gomphodontosuchus Brasiliensis Irajatherium hernadezi Luangwa Massetognathus Menadon Minicynodon Protheriodon estudianti Protuberum cabralensis Prozostrodon brasiliensis Riograndia Santacruzodon hopsoni Therioherpeton cargnini Traversodon Stahleckeri Dicynodonts Dinodontosaurus pedroanum Dinodontosaurus turpior Jachaleria candelariensis Stahleckeria Trucidocynodon Dinosaurs Staurikosaurus Guaibasaurus Pampadromaeus Sacisaurus Saturnalia tupiniquim Unaysaurus Mesosaurus Mesosaurus Pareiasaurus Provelosaurus brasiliensis Procolophons Candelaria barbouri Procolophon brasiliensis Procolophon pricei Procolophon trigoniceps Rhynchosaurs Hyperodapedon huenei Hyperodapedon mariensis Hyperodapedon sanjuanensis Temnospondylis Bageherpeton longignathus Sangaia lavinai Stereospondyli Insects Sanctipaulus mendesi Others Clevosaurus brasiliensis Dinocephalians Pampaphoneus biccai Soturnia caliodon Tiarajudens eccentricus Paleorrota's Flag. Dinotchê: The mascot Paleorrota. Flora Lycophytas Brasilodendron pedroanum Cyclodendron sp. Pteridospermatophytas Dicroidium odontopteroides Dicroidium zuberi Pteridophytas Asterotheca sp. Botrychiopsis plantianum Botrychiopsis valida Neomariopteris sp. Osmundites brasiliensis Pecopteris sp. Stephanophyllites sp. Sphenophytas Phyllotheca brevifolia Phyllotheca longifolia Sphenopteris sp. Neocalamites sp. Glossopteris Gangamopteris obovata Gangamopteris sulriograndensis Glossopteris angustifolia Glossopteris. brasiliensis Glossopteris browniana Glossopteris communisi Glossopteris indica Glossopteris occidentalis Cordaites Cordaites hislopii Kawizophyllum sp. Ginkgophytas Baieroxylon cicatricum Cheirophyllum speculare Chiropteris sp. Ginkgoites antarctica Sphenobaiera sp. Conifers Brachyphyllum sp. Buriadia sp. Cordaicarpus brasilianus Cordaicarpus cerronegrensisi Cordaicarpus fanatinensis Cordaicarpus truncata Coricladus quiteriensis Kaokoxylon zalesskyi Pagiophyllum sp. Samaropsis gigas Samaropsis kurtzii Samaropsis millaniana Samaropsis rigbyi Samaropsis seixasi Sommerxylon spiralosus Bennettitales Nilssonia sp. Williamsonia sp.