Anthracosaurus
Name:
Anthracosaurus
(Coal lizard).
Phonetic: An-fra-coe-sore-us.
Named By: Thomas Henry Huxley - 1863.
Classification: Chordata, Amphibia,
Reptiliomorpha, Embolomeri, Anthracosauridae.
Species: A. russelli (type).
Diet: Carnivore/Piscivore.
Size: Skull 40 centimetres long, body
estimated up to about 3 meters long.
Known locations: England and Scotland.
Time period: Moscovian of the Carboniferous.
Fossil representation: Skull fragments.
Anthracosaurus
is believed to have been a member of the Embolomeri, a sub group of
the reptilomorphs. So far only elements of the skull are known, but
if Anthracosaurus had a body similar in form to it
relatives like
Archeria,
then the body and tail would have been long and slender and
up to about three meters long. Long, slender bodies that are termed
eel-like are commonly seen in carboniferous vertebrates since they
allowed for easier navigation through clogged carboniferous swamps and
water systems. Aside from some amphibians and reptilomorphs,
xenacanthid
sharks also display elongated eel-like body forms.
Anthracosaurus
had long sharp teeth in its jaws, and also a second set on the roof
of its mouth. These would have been used to spear and trap soft
bodied prey such as fish and even other amphibians, which then would
probably be swallowed whole.
Further reading
- Description of Anthracosaurus russelli, a new
labyrinthodont form
the Lanarkshire coal field, Thomas Henry Huxley - 1863.
- On Anthracosaurus russelli Huxley (Amphibia:
Labyrinthodontia)
and the family Anthracosauridae, A. L. Panchen - 1977.
- Two new specimens of Anthracosaurus
(Amphibia: Anthracosauria)
from the Northumberland Coal Measures, Jennifer A. Clack -
1987.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Random favourites
 |
 |
 |