Saharastega
Name:
Saharastega
(Sahara roof).
Phonetic: Sah-ha-rah-steg-ah.
Named By: C. A. Sidor, F. R. O'Keefe,
R. Damiani, J. S. Steyer, R. M. H. Smith, H. C.
E. Larsson, P. C. Sereno, O. Ide & A. Maga
- 2005.
Classification: Chordata, Amphibia,
Temnospondyli.
Species: S. moradiensis
(type).
Diet: Carnivore/Piscivore.
Size: Skull 36.8 centimetres long, 30 centimetres wide.
Known locations: Niger - Moradi Formation.
Time period: Wuchiapingian of the Permian.
Fossil representation: Skull.
Although only first described from a skull, Saharastega shows similarities to Nigerpeton, and together the two genera are considered to be primitive members of the Temnospondyli. As with its other relatives, Saharastega probably never strayed too far from water where they were best adapted to live and hunt, though most temnospondyl amphibians could leave the water if they so wished.
Further reading
- Permian tetrapods from the Sahara show climate-controlled endemism
in Pangaea. - Nature 434:886-889 - C. A. Sidor, F.
R. O'Keefe, R. Damiani, J. S. Steyer, R. M. H.
Smith, H. C. E. Larsson, P. C. Sereno, O. Ide
& A. Maga - 2005.
- The vertebrate fauna of the Upper Permian of Niger. V. The
primitive temnospondyl Saharastega moradiensis -
Journal of
Vertebrate Paleontology 26 (3): 559–572 - R. Damiani
. C. A. Sidor, J. S. Steyer, R. M. H. Smith, H.
C. E. Larsson, A. Maga & O. Ide - 2006.
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