Mycterosaurus
Mycterosaurus (Greek as mykter/mykteros meaning nose/snout, sauros meaning “lizard”) is an extinct genus of synapsids belonging to the family Varanopidae. It is classified in the varanopid subfamily Mycterosaurinae. Mycterosaurus is the most primitive member of its family, existing from 290.1 to 272.5 MYA, known to Texas and Oklahoma. It lacks some features that its advanced relatives have.
| Mycterosaurus Temporal range: Early Permian, | |
|---|---|
| Life restoration of Mycterosaurus longcipes | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Family: | †Varanopidae |
| Subfamily: | †Mycterosaurinae |
| Genus: | †Mycterosaurus Williston, 1915 |
| Type species | |
| †Mycterosaurus longiceps Williston, 1915 | |
Mycterosaurus is a relatively small carnivore, estimated to be around 60 cm (23 inches) long with synonyms of Eumatthevia bolli, and possibly Basicranodon fortsillensis. Restored, Mycterosaurus appears spindly and grotesque in contrast to the majority of "pelycosaurs" in its proportions and especially unlike edaphosaurs, which are commonly stocky in build.
The number of valid Mycterosaurus species have varied over the years, with a total of two classifications of Mycterosaurus longiceps and Mycterosaurus smithae. However, recent analysis has led to a re-description of Mycterosaurus smithae.