Aspidosaurus
Encyclopedia
Aspidosaurus is an extinct genus
of dissorophoidea
n euskelia
n temnospondyl within the family
Dissorophidae
. Aspidosaurs are characterised by possessing a single row of plates which are formed by expansions of the neural spines.
the remains of various bones that appeared to belong to Aspidosaurus novontexicanus. The skull closely resembled that of a specimen of Cacops aspidephorous
found in Texas
but the arrangement of ridges in the otic region was different. The teeth found were slender and conical and all of an approximately equal size. The vertebral column, pelvis and limb bones were also similar but the new specimen was distinguished from Cacops by the armour, the single row of vertical plates that were originally attached to the neural spines of the vertebrae. The feet seem to have been short and broad.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of dissorophoidea
Dissorophoidea
Dissorophoideans are a clade of medium-sized, temnospondyl amphibians that appeared during the Late Pennsylvanian in Euramerica, and continued through to the Late Permian and even possibly the Early Triassic of Gondwana...
n euskelia
Euskelia
Euskelia is a clade of extinct Temnospondyl amphibians.-References:*Yates, A. M. & Warren, A. A. , The phylogeny of the 'higher' temnospondyls and its implications for the monophyly and origins of the Stereospondyli. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 128: 77-121....
n temnospondyl within the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Dissorophidae
Dissorophidae
Dissorophidae is an extinct family of medium-sized, temnospondyl amphibians that flourished during the Late Pennsylvanian and early Permian periods in what is now North America and Europe...
. Aspidosaurs are characterised by possessing a single row of plates which are formed by expansions of the neural spines.
Aspidosaurus novontexicanus
In 1911, Mr Paul Miller discovered in New MexicoNew Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
the remains of various bones that appeared to belong to Aspidosaurus novontexicanus. The skull closely resembled that of a specimen of Cacops aspidephorous
Cacops
Cacops is a genus of dissorophid temnospondyl that is known from the Early Permian of the central United States.It was about long and well adapted to a terrestrial lifestyle, with a heavily built skull, strong legs, a short tail, and a row of armor plates along its back...
found in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
but the arrangement of ridges in the otic region was different. The teeth found were slender and conical and all of an approximately equal size. The vertebral column, pelvis and limb bones were also similar but the new specimen was distinguished from Cacops by the armour, the single row of vertical plates that were originally attached to the neural spines of the vertebrae. The feet seem to have been short and broad.