Pedaeosaurus
Encyclopedia
Pedaeosaurus is an extinct genus
of non-mammal
ian synapsid
. Fossils have been found from the Fremouw Formation
in the southern Transantarctic Mountains
of Antarctica. Padaeosaurus has traditionally been classified as a scaloposaurid and more recently as an ericiolacertid closely related to Ericiolacerta
(also from the Fremouw Formation).
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 non-mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
ian synapsid
Synapsid
Synapsids are a group of animals that includes mammals and everything more closely related to mammals than to other living amniotes. They are easily separated from other amniotes by having an opening low in the skull roof behind each eye, leaving a bony arch beneath each, accounting for their name...
. Fossils have been found from the Fremouw Formation
Fremouw Formation
The Fremouw Formation is a Triassic-age rock formation in the Transantarctic Mountains of Antarctica. Fossils of prehistoric reptiles and amphibians have been found in the formation. Fossilized trees have also been found. The formation's beds were deposited along the banks of rivers and on...
in the southern Transantarctic Mountains
Transantarctic Mountains
The three largest mountain ranges on the Antarctic continent are the Transantarctic Mountains , the West Antarctica Ranges, and the East Antarctica Ranges. The Transantarctic Mountains compose a mountain range in Antarctica which extend, with some interruptions, across the continent from Cape Adare...
of Antarctica. Padaeosaurus has traditionally been classified as a scaloposaurid and more recently as an ericiolacertid closely related to Ericiolacerta
Ericiolacerta
Ericiolacerta was a small therocephalian therapsid from the early Triassic of South Africa and Antarctica. It was around in length, with long limbs and relatively small teeth. It was probably fairly active, and ate insects and other small invertebrates....
(also from the Fremouw Formation).