Tuditanidae
Encyclopedia
Tuditanidae is an extinct family
of tuditanomorph
microsaurs. Fossils have been found from Nova Scotia
, Ohio
, and the Czech Republic
and are Late Carboniferous in age.
Tuditanids were medium-sized terrestrial microsaurs that resembled lizard
s. Postcranial material is best known from the genus Tuditanus
, showing that it had size, proportions, and skull configuration that were similar to captorhinids
. Tuditanids have also developed an astragalus
in the ankle (a reptilian feature) from the fusion of several other bones.
In comparison to other microsaurs, tuditanids were short-bodied, with fewer than 30 presacral vertebrae. The limbs are large and well developed. Unlike other microsaurs such as gymnarthrids
, the jaw articulation is at the posterior margin of the skull. The teeth are blunt and peg-like.
Tuditanids are thought to have had a similar lifestyle to reptiles such as captorhinids. They were terrestrial and likely fed on insect
s and other small arthropod
s. The similarity between tuditanids and contemporary reptiles may have contributed to their rarity in the Late Carboniferous and their relatively early extinction before the start of the Permian
.
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...
of tuditanomorph
Tuditanomorpha
Tuditanomorpha is a suborder of microsaur lepospondyls. Tuditanomorphs lived from the Late Carboniferous to the Early Permian and are known from North America and Europe. Tuditanomorphs have a similar pattern of bones in the skull roof. Tuditanomorphs display considerable variability, especially in...
microsaurs. Fossils have been found from Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, and the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
and are Late Carboniferous in age.
Tuditanids were medium-sized terrestrial microsaurs that resembled lizard
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
s. Postcranial material is best known from the genus Tuditanus
Tuditanus
Tuditanus is an extinct genus of tuditanid microsaur from the Carboniferous.-See also:* Prehistoric amphibian* List of prehistoric amphibians...
, showing that it had size, proportions, and skull configuration that were similar to captorhinids
Captorhinidae
Captorhinidae is one of the earliest and most basal reptile families.-Description:...
. Tuditanids have also developed an astragalus
Talus bone
-External links:* *...
in the ankle (a reptilian feature) from the fusion of several other bones.
In comparison to other microsaurs, tuditanids were short-bodied, with fewer than 30 presacral vertebrae. The limbs are large and well developed. Unlike other microsaurs such as gymnarthrids
Gymnarthridae
Gymnarthridae is an extinct family of tuditanomorph microsaurs. Gymnarthrids are known from Europe and North America and existed from the Late Carboniferous through the Early Permian. Remains have been found from the Czech Republic, Nova Scotia, Illinois, Texas, and Oklahoma.Gymnarthrids are...
, the jaw articulation is at the posterior margin of the skull. The teeth are blunt and peg-like.
Tuditanids are thought to have had a similar lifestyle to reptiles such as captorhinids. They were terrestrial and likely fed on insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s and other small arthropod
Arthropod
An arthropod is an invertebrate animal having an exoskeleton , a segmented body, and jointed appendages. Arthropods are members of the phylum Arthropoda , and include the insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and others...
s. The similarity between tuditanids and contemporary reptiles may have contributed to their rarity in the Late Carboniferous and their relatively early extinction before the start of 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...
.