Aspidosaurus

As-pid-o-sore-us.
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Benjamin Gutierrez

Vertebrate Paleontologist

Benjamin Gutierrez is a leading expert on dinosaurs, particularly the mighty theropods. His fieldwork in South America has uncovered new species and provided insights into dinosaur social structures.

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Name

Aspidosaurus.

Phonetic

As-pid-o-sore-us.

Named By

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Amphibia,‭ ‬Temnospondyli,‭ ‬Dissorophidae,‭ ‬Cacopinae.

Diet

Carnivore.

Species

A. chiton

Size

Unavailable.

Known locations

USA,‭ ‬New Mexico‭ & ‬Texas.

Time Period

Artinskian to Kungurian of the Permian.

Fossil representation

Several individuals,‭ ‬though usually very incomplete.

In Depth

       A possible close relative of the genus Cacops,‭ ‬Aspidosaurus is noted for having a single row of bony armour plates than ran down its spine.‭ ‬Aspidosaurus had fairly slender teeth that were the same size throughout the mouth.‭ ‬These were probably used to seize small animals such as fish,‭ ‬amphibians and possible early reptiles.

Further Reading

Further reading- New or little known reptiles and amphibians from the Permian (?) of Texas. – Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 28:163-181. – E. C. Case – 1910. -‭ ‬Aspidosaurus binasser‭ (‬Amphibia,‭ ‬Temnospondyli‭)‬,‭ ‬a new species of dissorophidae from the Lower Permian of Texas‭ ‬-‭ ‬D.‭ ‬S.‭ ‬Berman‭ & ‬S.‭ ‬G.‭ ‬Lucas‭ ‬-‭ ‬2003.

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