Hovasaurus

Name: Hovasaurus‭ (‬Hova lizard‭)‬.
Phonetic: Ho-vah-sore-us.
Named By: Jean Piveteau‭ ‬-‭ ‬1926.
Classification: Chordata,‭ ‬Amniota,‭ ‬Sauropsida,‭ ‬Eosuchia,‭ ‬Tangasauridae.
Species: H.‭ ‬boulei (type).
Diet: Carnivore.
Size: 50‭ ‬centimetres long.
Known locations: Madagascar - Sakamena Formation.
Time period: Changhsingian of the Permian to Induan of the Triassic.
Fossil representation: Many specimens are known.‭

       Hovasaurus was a diapsid reptile that developed special adaptations for an aquatic lifestyle.‭ ‬The toes of the feet were long and had webbing between them to make them work as flippers.‭ ‬The caudal vertebrae are extended up and below to support a vertically flattened tail.‭ ‬This would have provided a strong method of propulsion while swimming.‭ ‬Skin impressions of Hovasaurus show reptilian scales as seen in lizards.
       Interestingly,‭ ‬Hovasaurus remains have been found to have concentrations of small stones where their stomachs would be,‭ ‬suggesting that these reptiles swallowed them in order to increase buoyancy.‭

Further reading
- Paleontologie de Madagascar, XIII. Amphibiens et reptiles permiens. - Annales de Paléontologie 15:53-180. - J. Piveteau - 1926.
- Hovasaurus boulei, an aquatic eosuchian from the Upper Permian of Madagascar, - Palaeontographica Africana 24: 99-168. - P.J. Currie - 1981.
- New reptile material from the Lower Triassic of Madagascar: implications for the Permian–Triassic extinction event. - Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences. 44 (1): 1–8. - H. F.Ketchum & P. M. Barrett - 2004.

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