Procolophon
Encyclopedia
Procolophon was a genus of lizard-like procolophonid reptiles with at least eight species that persisted through the Permian–Triassic extinction event, but became extinct in the later Triassic.
The skull was solid but some species did evolve a temporal fenestra in the skull independently of other reptiles. There was one backward facing cheek spike, but its function is debated; it may have been for muscle attachment. Eyes were large and may have had acute day or night vision. The teeth were peg-like and suitable for crushing of plant matter. The front of the skull
was short and blunt with the nasal opening very close to the mouth.
The vertebrae were robust with a rounded rib cage
composed of many small weak rib
s. Legs were short, thickly built with short phalange
s; this suggests an animal that burrowed and did not run fast.
and vomeronasal. It was found in Brazil
, in the geopark
of Paleorrota
in the Sanga do Cabral Formation
.
, Antarctica, and Brazil, where it is known from the geopark of Paleorrota, in the Sanga do Cabral Formation of the municipality of Dilermando de Aguiar
. It lived during the Early Triassic
(about 250 to 240 million years).
The skull was solid but some species did evolve a temporal fenestra in the skull independently of other reptiles. There was one backward facing cheek spike, but its function is debated; it may have been for muscle attachment. Eyes were large and may have had acute day or night vision. The teeth were peg-like and suitable for crushing of plant matter. The front of the skull
Skull
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...
was short and blunt with the nasal opening very close to the mouth.
The vertebrae were robust with a rounded rib cage
Rib cage
The rib cage is an arrangement of bones in the thorax of animals. It is formed by the vertebral column, ribs and sternum and encloses the heart and lungs....
composed of many small weak rib
Rib
In vertebrate anatomy, ribs are the long curved bones which form the rib cage. In most vertebrates, ribs surround the chest, enabling the lungs to expand and thus facilitate breathing by expanding the chest cavity. They serve to protect the lungs, heart, and other internal organs of the thorax...
s. Legs were short, thickly built with short phalange
Phalanx bones
In anatomy, phalanx bones are those that form the fingers and toes. In primates such as humans and monkeys, the thumb and big toe have two phalanges, while the other fingers and toes consist of three. Phalanges are classified as long bones.The phalanges do not have individual names...
s; this suggests an animal that burrowed and did not run fast.
P. brasiliensis
P. brasiliensis is distinguished from other representatives of the genus by the character of the dentitionDentition
Dentition pertains to the development of teeth and their arrangement in the mouth. In particular, the characteristic arrangement, kind, and number of teeth in a given species at a given age...
and vomeronasal. It was found in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, in the geopark
Geopark
A Geopark is defined by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in its UNESCO Geoparks International Network of Geoparks programme as follows:...
of Paleorrota
Paleorrota
Paleorrota , is a geopark located in the center of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. The rocks and fossils found along the route date back to the times when there was only one supercontinent Pangaea....
in the Sanga do Cabral Formation
Sanga do Cabral Formation
right|350px|thumb|Sanga do Cabral Formation. Source: [[UFSM]].The Sanga do Cabral Formation is a sedimentary rock formation found in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.This rock formation is located in geopark of paleorrota, and is located to the south of Geopark...
.
P. pricei
P. pricei has been found in 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...
, Antarctica, and Brazil, where it is known from the geopark of Paleorrota, in the Sanga do Cabral Formation of the municipality of Dilermando de Aguiar
Dilermando de Aguiar
- Paleontology :This city belongs to the geopark of Paleorrota. In this city there are outcrops of Sanga do Cabral Formation, the . Early Triassic age.-See also:...
. It lived during the Early Triassic
Early Triassic
The Early Triassic is the first of three epochs of the Triassic period of the geologic timescale. It spans the time between 251 ± 0.4 Ma and 245 ± 1.5 Ma . Rocks from this epoch are collectively known as the Lower Triassic, which is a unit in chronostratigraphy...
(about 250 to 240 million years).