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Scutosaurus skull
Skull of Scutosaurus (after Golubev 2001.)
Scutosaurus was a Late Permian anapsid reptile from Russia, dating from the Late Tatarian and Early Vyatkian phases (259-252 mya). Named "shield lizard" (scuto- "shield" or "scale"; -saurus "lizard"), for the large armor plates covering its body beneath the skin, Scutosaurus is the type genus of the Sokolki Faunal Assemblage on the North Dvina and Sukhonsa Rivers, being found at 34 sites in Eastern European Russia (Golubev 2001). It is grouped in the clades Parareptilia and Pareisauridae.
Scutosaurus was
a large, plant-eating pareisaur who foraged along rivers, and whose
armored body served to protect it from attacks by large
carnivores. Unlike most reptiles, its legs were positioned directly
underneath its body to support its great weight. The broad, flat skull
is about 50 cm wide, with bony protuberances in the cheek
and rear regions.
References:
Golubev, V.K. 2000. The Faunal Assemblages of of Permian Terrestial Vertebrates from Eastern Europe. Paleontological Journal 34, suppl.2.
Golubev, V.K. 2001 Event Correlation of the Marine Deposits of Kazanian stage in the stratotype area. Stratigraphy and Geological Correlation. Interperiodica Publishing. v9 (5): 40-58.
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