Elliotsmithia

In Depth        Elliotsmithia is a little known genus of pelycosaur that was initially described from the study of a partial skull. Further Reading -‭ ‬A further contribution to our knowledge of the fossil reptiles of the Karroo.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London‭ ‬107‭(‬3‭)‬:299-318.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Robert Broom‭ ‬-‭ ‬1937. -‭ ‬Anatomy and relationships … Read more

Dendromaia

In Depth        With bone features similar to the genus Mycterosaurus,‭ ‬yet different enough to be distinct,‭ ‬Dendromaia is a genus of varanopid pelycosaur that lived in North America during the Carboniferous.‭ ‬Dendromaia was described from the description of two individuals on a fossil bearing rock slab,‭ ‬one large,‭ ‬the other much smaller with slightly differing … Read more

Mesenosaurus

In Depth        Mesenosaurus is a genus of varanopid pelycosaur that lived in Russia during the Permian. Further Reading -‭ ‬Some new Permian reptiles of the USSR.‭ ‬-Academy of Sciences URSS,‭ ‬C.‭ ‬R.,‭ ‬19:‭ ‬121-126.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Efremov‭ ‬-‭ ‬1938. -‭ ‬The skull of Mesenosaurus romeri,‭ ‬a small varanopseid‭ (‬Synapsida:‭ ‬Eupelycosauria‭) ‬from the Upper Permian of the … Read more

Heleosaurus

In Depth        Originally thought to be a diapsid reptile,‭ ‬Heleosaurus was later realised to be a varanopid pelycosaur. Heleosaurus would have been a predator of other small animals. Further Reading -‭ ‬On Some New Fossil Reptiles from the Karroo Beds of Victoria West,‭ ‬South Africa.‭ ‬Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society‭ ‬18:31-42-‭ ‬Robert Broom‭ … Read more

Pyozia

In Depth        Pyozia is a genus of varanopid pelycosaur that lived in Russia during the Permian. Further Reading -‭ ‬Pyozia mesenensis,‭ ‬a New,‭ ‬Small Vapanopid‭ (‬Synapsida:‭ ‬Eupelycosauria‭) ‬from Russia:‭ ‘‘‬Pelycosaur‭’’ ‬Diversity in the Middle Permian.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology‭ ‬24‭(‬1‭)‬:173-179.‭ ‬-‭ ‬J.‭ ‬S.‭ ‬Anderson‭ & ‬R.‭ ‬R.‭ ‬Reisz‭ ‬-‭ ‬2004.

Apsisaurus

In Depth        Initially thought to be a diapsid,‭ ‬Apsisaurus was later realised to a Eupelycosaurian varnopisd.‭ ‬As a Varanopid,‭ ‬Apsisaurus was related to the more famous Varanops which also lived in Texas at the same approximate time as Apsisaurus. Further Reading -‭ ‬The osteology of a Lower Permian eosuchian from Texas and a review of … Read more