Embrithosaurus
Encyclopedia
Embrithosaurus was a pareiasaur
from the Permian
time period.
of Embrithosaurus. The smooth dermal plates and the nine cusps
in its teeth suggest it was also the most advanced.
of this species is large and deep, and high in the jugal
region.
This species was originally the type species of Embrithosauruss synonym
, Nochelosaurus by Haughton & Boonstra. In 1969, Boonstra thought it belonged under the Bradysaurus
genus. But Kuhn thought that it belonged under the Embrithosaurus genus.
Embrithosaurus angustus The skull of this reptile is long and narrow. This indicates that it might have had a different diet than other pareiasaur
s. This was named the type species for Embrithosauruss synonym Dolichoparia.
of
South Africa
, , and
Mongolia
.
Pareiasaur
The Pareiasaurs - Family Pareiasauridae - are a clade of medium-sized to large herbivorous anapsid reptiles that flourished during the Permian period....
from the Permian
Permian
The PermianThe term "Permian" was introduced into geology in 1841 by Sir Sir R. I. Murchison, president of the Geological Society of London, who identified typical strata in extensive Russian explorations undertaken with Edouard de Verneuil; Murchison asserted in 1841 that he named his "Permian...
time period.
Embrithosaurus schwarzi
Embrithosaurus schwarzi is the type speciesType species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
of Embrithosaurus. The smooth dermal plates and the nine cusps
Cusp (dentistry)
A cusp is an occlusal or incisal eminence on a tooth.Canine teeth, otherwise known as cuspids, each possess a single cusp, while premolars, otherwise known as bicuspids, possess two each. Molars normally possess either four or five cusps...
in its teeth suggest it was also the most advanced.
Embrithosaurus strubeni
The skullSkull
The skull is a bony structure in the head of many animals that supports the structures of the face and forms a cavity for the brain.The skull is composed of two parts: the cranium and the mandible. A skull without a mandible is only a cranium. Animals that have skulls are called craniates...
of this species is large and deep, and high in the jugal
Jugal
The jugal is a skull bone found in most reptiles, amphibians, and birds. In mammals, the jugal is often called the malar or Zygomatic. It is connected to the quadratojugal and maxilla, as well as other bones, which may vary by species....
region.
This species was originally the type species of Embrithosauruss synonym
Synonym
Synonyms are different words with almost identical or similar meanings. Words that are synonyms are said to be synonymous, and the state of being a synonym is called synonymy. The word comes from Ancient Greek syn and onoma . The words car and automobile are synonyms...
, Nochelosaurus by Haughton & Boonstra. In 1969, Boonstra thought it belonged under the Bradysaurus
Bradysaurus
Bradysaurus was a large , early and common pareiasaur, the fossils of which are known from the richly fossiliferous Tapinocephalus Assemblage Zone of the South African Karoo. Along with the similarly large dinocephalia, the bradysaurs constituted the herbivorous megafauna of the late Middle...
genus. But Kuhn thought that it belonged under the Embrithosaurus genus.
Embrithosaurus angustus The skull of this reptile is long and narrow. This indicates that it might have had a different diet than other pareiasaur
Pareiasaur
The Pareiasaurs - Family Pareiasauridae - are a clade of medium-sized to large herbivorous anapsid reptiles that flourished during the Permian period....
s. This was named the type species for Embrithosauruss synonym Dolichoparia.
Distribution
Embrithosaurus was from the PermianPermian
The PermianThe term "Permian" was introduced into geology in 1841 by Sir Sir R. I. Murchison, president of the Geological Society of London, who identified typical strata in extensive Russian explorations undertaken with Edouard de Verneuil; Murchison asserted in 1841 that he named his "Permian...
of
South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, , and
MongoliaMongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
.
Discovery
A specimen of Embrithosaurus schwarzi was found in the Karoo Basin, in South Africa.See also
- PareiasaurPareiasaurThe Pareiasaurs - Family Pareiasauridae - are a clade of medium-sized to large herbivorous anapsid reptiles that flourished during the Permian period....
- ProcolophoniaProcolophoniaThe Procolophonia are a suborder of herbivorous reptiles that lived from the Middle Permian till the end of the Triassic period. They were originally included as a suborder of the Cotylosauria but are now considered a clade of Parareptilia...
- RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
- South AfricaSouth AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
- MongoliaMongoliaMongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...