Heleosaurus

Robert Broom‭ ‬-‭ ‬1908.
Published on

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

Heleosaurus Hel-e-o-sore-us.

Phonetic

Robert Broom‭ ‬-‭ ‬1908.

Named By

Robert Broom‭ ‬-‭ ‬1908.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Synapsida,‭ ‬Eupelycosauria,‭ ‬Varanopidae,‭ ‬Mycterosaurinae.

Diet

Carnivore/insectivore.

Species

H.‭ ‬scholtzi‭

Size

About‭ ‬50‭ ‬centimetres long.

Known locations

South Africa‭ ‬-‭ ‬Abrahamskraal Formation.

Time Period

Capitanian of the Permian.

Fossil representation

Partial remains.

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 ‬-‭ ‬1908. -‭ ‬Heleosaurus scholtzi from the Permian of South Africa:‭ ‬a varanopid synapsid,‭ ‬not a diapsid reptile.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology‭ ‬27‭ (‬3‭)‬:‭ ‬734-739.‭ ‬-‭ ‬R.‭ ‬R.‭ ‬Reisz‭ & ‬S.‭ ‬P.‭ ‬Modesto‭ ‬-‭ ‬2007. – Anatomy and Relationships of the Middle Permian Varanopid Heleosaurus scholtzi Based on a Social Aggregation from the Karoo Basin of South Africa. – Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 29.2 (2009): 389-400. – Jennifer Botha-Brink & Sean P. Modesto – 2009.

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