Английская Википедия:Araeoscelis

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Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Automatic taxobox

Araeoscelis (from Шаблон:Lang-el Шаблон:Transl, 'thin' and Шаблон:Lang-el Шаблон:Transl, 'ribs of beef')[1] is an extinct genus of reptile, and potentially one of the earliest diapsids (a study from 2022 argued for a placement as a stem-amniote).[2] Fossils have been found in the Nocona, Arroyo and Waggoner Ranch Formations in Texas, dating to the Early Permian. Two species have been described, A. casei and A. gracilis.[3]

Description

Файл:Araeoscelis 1914.jpg
1914 restoration by Samuel Wendell Williston

Araeoscelis was around Шаблон:Convert long, and superficially resembled a modern lizard. It differed from earlier forms, such as Petrolacosaurus, in that its teeth were larger and blunter; possibly they were used for cracking insect carapaces.[4]

Unlike its close relatives, which exhibit the two pairs of skull openings characteristic of diapsids, in Araeoscelis the lower pair of temporal fenestrae were closed with bone, resulting in a euryapsid condition. This would have made the skull more solid, presumably allowing a more powerful bite.[4]

Ichnology

Footprints found in Nova Scotia have been attributed to Araeoscelis or a close relative.[3]

References

Шаблон:Reflist

Further reading

Шаблон:Eureptilia Шаблон:Taxonbar