Protorosaurus
| Protorosaurus Temporal range: Guadalupian, 260–251 Ma | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Fossil specimen, Teyler's Museum | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | †Protorosauria |
| Family: | †Protorosauridae Lydekker, 1888 |
| Genus: | †Protorosaurus von Meyer, 1830 |
| Type species | |
| †Protorosaurus speneri von Meyer, 1830 | |
Protorosaurus ("first lizard"), a lizard-like reptile of the order Prolacertiformes, is the earliest known archosauromorph. It lived during the Late Permian period in Germany.
Description
Protorosaurus grew up to 2 metres (6.6 ft) in length, and was a slender, lizard-like animal, with long legs and a long neck. Its body form suggests that it was fast-moving, although it may have fed primarily on insects.[1] Protorosaurus was closely related to Czatkowiella from the Early Triassic of Poland.[2]
Discovery
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 renamed his ceratopsian Chasmosaurus.
In Geopark of Paleorrota, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, 3 vertebrae and some bones of the animal were found.
References
- ↑ Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 93. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.
- ↑ Borsuk–Białynicka, M.; Evans, S.E. (2009). "A long–necked archosauromorph from the Early Triassic of Poland" (pdf). Palaeontologia Polonica 65: 203–234.
External links
Gallery
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Protorosaurus speneri skeleton