Varanosaurus
Template:Short description Template:Automatic taxobox
Varanosaurus ('monitor lizard') is an extinct genus of early ophiacodontid synapsid that lived during the Artinskian[1] and Kungurian ages of the Permian.[2]
Description
As its name implies, Varanosaurus may have looked superficially similar to present-day monitor lizardsScript error: No such module "Unsubst"., though not related at all.
Varanosaurus had a flattened, elongated skull and a pointed snout with a row of sharp teeth, including two pairs of conspicuous pseudocanines, implying that it was an active predator.[3]
Varanosaurus probably lived in swamps, competing with the larger Ophiacodon for food.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Classification
Below is a cladogram modified from the analysis of Benson (2012):[4]
Script error: No such module "Clade".
See also
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ A. S. Romer. 1937. New genera and species of pelycosaurian reptiles. Proceedings of the New England Zoölogical Club 16:89-95
- ↑ R. R. Reisz. 1986. Pelycosauria. Handbuch der Paläoherpetologie / Encyclopedia of Paleoherpetology 17A:1-102
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Further reading
- Benes, Josef. Prehistoric Animals and Plants. Pg. 90. Artia: Prague, 1979.