Archegosaurus is a genus of temnospondylamphibian which lived during the Asselian to Wuchiapingian stages of the Permian, around 299-253 million years ago. The remains of this animal, consisting of at least 90 partial skeletons (mostly skulls), have been found in Germany. The name Archegosaurus was coined by Goldfuss in 1847. Archegosaurus is a member of Archegosauridae and is that family's type genus.
In 1938, paleontologist Margaret C. Steen described a temnospondyl from the Permian-age Ruprechtice assemblage in northeast Bohemia. Steen named it Memonomenos dyscriton on the basis of a skull that was narrower than others in the Ruprechtice. It was classified as an anthracosaur, a group closely related to reptiles. Both Memonomenos and embolomere anthracosaurs had vertebrae that were divided into several parts, including a pleurocentrum and intercentrum. Animals with this type of divided vertebrae were said to be rachitomi. During the early twentieth century, paleontologists considered rhachitomous temnospondyls to be the descendants of embolomeres, and Steen considered Memonomenos to be a link between these two groups. Steen also noted that Memonomenos had large tabular horns, a feature shared with anthracosaurs. Temnospondyls and anthracosaurs were later found to be two distantly related groups, and paleontologist Alfred Romer placed Memonomenos within Anthracosauria. This placement was accepted until 1978 when Memonomenos was reassigned to the genus Archegosaurus and classified as a temnospondyl. Memonomenos dyscriton became a second species of Archegosaurus, A. dyscriton.[1]
Biology
Water balance in Archegosaurus.
Archegosaurus was a fully aquatic animal. A study regarding its metabolism, gas exchange, osmoregulation, and digestion suggest that it was rather similar to fish, rather than modern aquatic amphibians like salamanders.[2]
References
^Milner, A.R. (1978). "A reappraisal of the Early Permian amphibians Memonomenos dyscriton and Cricotillus brachydens" (PDF). Palaeontology. 21 (3): 667–686.
^Florian Witzmann; Elizabeth Brainerd (2017). "Modeling the physiology of the aquatic temnospondyl Archegosaurus decheni from the early Permian of Germany". Fossil Record. 20 (2): 105–127. doi:10.5194/fr-20-105-2017.
Witzmann, Florian and Scholz, Henning (2006). "Morphometric study of allometric skull growth in the temnospondyl Archegosaurus decheni from the Permian/Carboniferous of Germany". Geobios 40: 4, pp 541–554.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Archegosaurus.
archegosaurus, genus, temnospondyl, amphibian, which, lived, during, asselian, wuchiapingian, stages, permian, around, million, years, remains, this, animal, consisting, least, partial, skeletons, mostly, skulls, have, been, found, germany, name, coined, goldf. Archegosaurus is a genus of temnospondyl amphibian which lived during the Asselian to Wuchiapingian stages of the Permian around 299 253 million years ago The remains of this animal consisting of at least 90 partial skeletons mostly skulls have been found in Germany The name Archegosaurus was coined by Goldfuss in 1847 Archegosaurus is a member of Archegosauridae and is that family s type genus ArchegosaurusTemporal range Early Permian Late Permian 299 253 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg NA decheni skullScientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AmphibiaOrder TemnospondyliFamily ArchegosauridaeGenus ArchegosaurusGoldfuss 1847Type species Archegosaurus decheniGoldfuss 1847Other species A dyscriton Steen 1938 originally Memonomenos dyscriton SynonymsMemonomenos Steen 1938 Contents 1 Classification 2 Biology 3 References 4 External linksClassification Edit Restoration of A decheni In 1938 paleontologist Margaret C Steen described a temnospondyl from the Permian age Ruprechtice assemblage in northeast Bohemia Steen named it Memonomenos dyscriton on the basis of a skull that was narrower than others in the Ruprechtice It was classified as an anthracosaur a group closely related to reptiles Both Memonomenos and embolomere anthracosaurs had vertebrae that were divided into several parts including a pleurocentrum and intercentrum Animals with this type of divided vertebrae were said to be rachitomi During the early twentieth century paleontologists considered rhachitomous temnospondyls to be the descendants of embolomeres and Steen considered Memonomenos to be a link between these two groups Steen also noted that Memonomenos had large tabular horns a feature shared with anthracosaurs Temnospondyls and anthracosaurs were later found to be two distantly related groups and paleontologist Alfred Romer placed Memonomenos within Anthracosauria This placement was accepted until 1978 when Memonomenos was reassigned to the genus Archegosaurus and classified as a temnospondyl Memonomenos dyscriton became a second species of Archegosaurus A dyscriton 1 Biology Edit Water balance in Archegosaurus Archegosaurus was a fully aquatic animal A study regarding its metabolism gas exchange osmoregulation and digestion suggest that it was rather similar to fish rather than modern aquatic amphibians like salamanders 2 References Edit Milner A R 1978 A reappraisal of the Early Permian amphibians Memonomenos dyscriton and Cricotillus brachydens PDF Palaeontology 21 3 667 686 Florian Witzmann Elizabeth Brainerd 2017 Modeling the physiology of the aquatic temnospondyl Archegosaurus decheni from the early Permian of Germany Fossil Record 20 2 105 127 doi 10 5194 fr 20 105 2017 Witzmann Florian and Scholz Henning 2006 Morphometric study of allometric skull growth in the temnospondyl Archegosaurus decheni from the Permian Carboniferous of Germany Geobios 40 4 pp 541 554 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Archegosaurus Archegosauroidea from Palaeos com Paleontology portal Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Archegosaurus amp oldid 1125240179, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
