Brazilosaurus
Encyclopedia
Brazilosaurus is an extinct genus
of mesosaur
which lived during the early Permian
(Artinskian
stage) of what is now Brazil
. It is known from a skeleton
recovered from the Assistencia Member of the Irati Formation
(Hanayama Farm, Tatuí
, São Paulo
). It was named by T. Shikama and H. Ozaki in 1966
and the type species
is Brazilosaurus sanpauloensis.
Brazilosaurus is not to be confused with the archosaur
Brasileosaurus
.
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 mesosaur
Mesosaur
Mesosaurs were a group of small aquatic reptiles that lived during the early Permian period, roughly 299 to 270 million years ago. Mesosaurs were the first aquatic reptiles, having apparently returned to an aquatic lifestyle from more terrestrial ancestors...
which lived during the early 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...
(Artinskian
Artinskian
In the geologic timescale, the Artinskian is an age or stage of the Permian. It is a subdivision of the Cisuralian epoch or series. The Artinskian lasted between 284.4 ± 0.7 and 275.6 ± 0.7 million years ago...
stage) of what is now 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...
. It is known from a skeleton
Skeleton
The skeleton is the body part that forms the supporting structure of an organism. There are two different skeletal types: the exoskeleton, which is the stable outer shell of an organism, and the endoskeleton, which forms the support structure inside the body.In a figurative sense, skeleton can...
recovered from the Assistencia Member of the Irati Formation
Irati Formation
Irati Formation is the name of a geological formation of Brazil.It has previously been dated as Upper Permian using palynomorphs but is now dated as Lower Permian using zircon ages obtained from bentonite layers...
(Hanayama Farm, Tatuí
Tatuí
Tatuí is a city located on São Paulo state, Brazil. Known as "Music City", the city has the largest music school in Latin America. Its name comes from Tupi language and means "Armadillos River". Population: 109.017 . Area: 525.4 km². Weather: dry...
, São Paulo
São Paulo (state)
São Paulo is a state in Brazil. It is the major industrial and economic powerhouse of the Brazilian economy. Named after Saint Paul, São Paulo has the largest population, industrial complex, and economic production in the country. It is the richest state in Brazil...
). It was named by T. Shikama and H. Ozaki in 1966
1966 in paleontology
-Newly named mesosaurs:-Newly named dinosaurs:Data courtesy of George Olshevsky's dinosaur genera list and Dr. Jeremy Montague's dinosaur genus database.-Non-mammalian:...
and the type species
Type 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...
is Brazilosaurus sanpauloensis.
Brazilosaurus is not to be confused with the archosaur
Archosaur
Archosaurs are a group of diapsid amniotes whose living representatives consist of modern birds and crocodilians. This group also includes all extinct non-avian dinosaurs, many extinct crocodilian relatives, and pterosaurs. Archosauria, the archosaur clade, is a crown group that includes the most...
Brasileosaurus
Brasileosaurus
Brasileosaurus is the name of a sparse collection of fossils that are nomen vanum-- that is, they will probably never be identified. They are believed to be the fossils of a non-dinosaurian archosaur. The type species is B...
.