Rotaurisaurus is an extinct genus of temnospondyls from the family Lapillopsidae. This genus is known only from an incomplete crushed skull and associated left jaw, together given the designation UTGD (University of Tasmania Geological Department) 87795. The generic name, Rotaurisaurus, is a combination of Latin words translating to "circle-eared lizard". This references the shape of its otic notches, which acquire a circular form due to being partially enclosed by the tabular bones at the back of the skull. The specific name, contundo, references the specimen's poor level of preservation, as it is derived from the Latin word for "squashed".[1]
The skull was discovered in 1960 at the Crisp and Gunn Quarry near Hobart, Tasmania. This quarry contains rock layers from the Knocklofty Formation, which is dated to the early Triassic Period. For years this skull was believed to belong to a juvenile individual of Chomatobatrachus halei, a species of lydekkerinid common in Tasmanian quarries.[1] It was listed as such during John Cosgriff's 1974 review of Tasmanian temnospondyls.[2] The Rotaurisaurus specimen was contained in a collapsed block of red siltstone which originally overlaid the grey siltstone of the formation's Poets Road Member. The Poets Road Member contained such fossils as a skeleton of the early archosaur relative Tasmaniosaurus triassicus, and is believed to hail between the Early Induan and Early Olenekian ages of the early Triassic, about 250 million years ago.[3]
In 1999, Adam Yates established that the skull represented a new genus and species distinct from Chomatobatrachus. He allied it with the enigmatic Australian temnospondyl Lapillopsis, and formulated a new family (Lapillopsidae) to contain the two genera. Rotaurisaurus possessed unusually shaped tabular bones, which typically formed triangular horn-like structures along the rear edge of the skull. In Rotaurisaurus, these bones bent outwards to enclose the adjacent otic notches at the back of the head. Other unique features include the presence of a longitudinal ridge on the outer surface of each quadratojugal bone (which was situated near the skull joint), and a raised rim of bone behind the orbits (eye holes).[1]
^ abcYates, Adam M. (June 1999). "The Lapillopsidae: a new family of small temnospondyls from the Early Triassic of Australia". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 19 (2): 302–320. doi:10.1080/02724634.1999.10011143.
^Cosgriff, John W. (1 January 1974). "Lower Triassic Temnospondyli of Tasmania". Geological Society of America Special Papers. 149: 1–130. doi:10.1130/SPE149-p1. ISBN9780813721491.
^Ezcurra, Martín D. (2014-01-30). "The Osteology of the Basal Archosauromorph Tasmaniosaurus triassicus from the Lower Triassic of Tasmania, Australia". PLOS ONE. 9 (1): e86864. Bibcode:2014PLoSO...986864E. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0086864. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC3907582. PMID 24497988.
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rotaurisaurus, extinct, genus, temnospondyls, from, family, lapillopsidae, this, genus, known, only, from, incomplete, crushed, skull, associated, left, together, given, designation, utgd, university, tasmania, geological, department, 87795, generic, name, com. Rotaurisaurus is an extinct genus of temnospondyls from the family Lapillopsidae This genus is known only from an incomplete crushed skull and associated left jaw together given the designation UTGD University of Tasmania Geological Department 87795 The generic name Rotaurisaurus is a combination of Latin words translating to circle eared lizard This references the shape of its otic notches which acquire a circular form due to being partially enclosed by the tabular bones at the back of the skull The specific name contundo references the specimen s poor level of preservation as it is derived from the Latin word for squashed 1 RotaurisaurusTemporal range Early Triassic Induan Olenekian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataOrder TemnospondyliSuborder StereospondyliFamily LapillopsidaeGenus RotaurisaurusYates 1999Type species Rotaurisaurus contundoYates 1999The skull was discovered in 1960 at the Crisp and Gunn Quarry near Hobart Tasmania This quarry contains rock layers from the Knocklofty Formation which is dated to the early Triassic Period For years this skull was believed to belong to a juvenile individual of Chomatobatrachus halei a species of lydekkerinid common in Tasmanian quarries 1 It was listed as such during John Cosgriff s 1974 review of Tasmanian temnospondyls 2 The Rotaurisaurus specimen was contained in a collapsed block of red siltstone which originally overlaid the grey siltstone of the formation s Poets Road Member The Poets Road Member contained such fossils as a skeleton of the early archosaur relative Tasmaniosaurus triassicus and is believed to hail between the Early Induan and Early Olenekian ages of the early Triassic about 250 million years ago 3 In 1999 Adam Yates established that the skull represented a new genus and species distinct from Chomatobatrachus He allied it with the enigmatic Australian temnospondyl Lapillopsis and formulated a new family Lapillopsidae to contain the two genera Rotaurisaurus possessed unusually shaped tabular bones which typically formed triangular horn like structures along the rear edge of the skull In Rotaurisaurus these bones bent outwards to enclose the adjacent otic notches at the back of the head Other unique features include the presence of a longitudinal ridge on the outer surface of each quadratojugal bone which was situated near the skull joint and a raised rim of bone behind the orbits eye holes 1 See also edit nbsp Paleontology portalPrehistoric amphibian List of prehistoric amphibiansReferences edit a b c Yates Adam M June 1999 The Lapillopsidae a new family of small temnospondyls from the Early Triassic of Australia Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 19 2 302 320 doi 10 1080 02724634 1999 10011143 Cosgriff John W 1 January 1974 Lower Triassic Temnospondyli of Tasmania Geological Society of America Special Papers 149 1 130 doi 10 1130 SPE149 p1 ISBN 9780813721491 Ezcurra Martin D 2014 01 30 The Osteology of the Basal Archosauromorph Tasmaniosaurus triassicus from the Lower Triassic of Tasmania Australia PLOS ONE 9 1 e86864 Bibcode 2014PLoSO 986864E doi 10 1371 journal pone 0086864 ISSN 1932 6203 PMC 3907582 PMID 24497988 nbsp This Temnospondyli related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rotaurisaurus amp oldid 1212625087, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
