Name:
Aspidosaurus.
Phonetic: As-pid-o-sore-us.
Named By: Broili - 1904.
Synonyms: Alegeinosaurus.
Classification: Chordata, Amphibia,
Temnospondyli, Dissorophidae, Cacopinae.
Species: A. chiton (type),
A. apicalis, A. binasser, A. crucifer, A. glascocki,
A. novomexicanus.
Diet: Carnivore.
Size: Unavailable.
Known locations: USA, New Mexico & Texas.
Time period: Artinskian to Kungurian of the Permian.
Fossil representation: Several individuals, though
usually very incomplete.
A possible close relative of the genus Cacops, Aspidosaurus is noted for having a single row of bony armour plates than ran down its spine. Aspidosaurus had fairly slender teeth that were the same size throughout the mouth. These were probably used to seize small animals such as fish, amphibians and possible early reptiles.
Further reading
- New or little known
reptiles and amphibians from the Permian (?) of Texas. - Bulletin of
the American Museum of Natural History 28:163-181. - E. C. Case - 1910.
- Aspidosaurus binasser (Amphibia,
Temnospondyli), a new
species of dissorophidae from the Lower Permian of Texas - D. S.
Berman & S. G. Lucas - 2003.
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