In Depth Hovasaurus was a diapsid reptile that developed special adaptations for an aquatic lifestyle. The toes of the feet were long and had webbing between them to make them work as flippers. The caudal vertebrae are extended up and below to support a vertically flattened tail. This would have provided a strong method of … Read more
In Depth Venjukovia was a genus of synapsid that lived in Russia during the mid-Permian. Further Reading - Diagnoses of the new forms of vertebrates and plants from the Upper Permian of North Dvina: Bulletin de l’Academie des Sciences, Saint Petersburg, v. 6, n. 16, p. 329-340. - V. Amalitskii - 1922. - The early … Read more
In Depth Eoscansor is a genus of varanopid amniote that lived in North America during the Carboniferous period. Further reading - A Scansorial Varanopid Eupelycosaur from the Pennsylvanian of New Mexico. - Annals of Carnegie Museum. 87 (3): 167–205. - Spencer G. Lucas, Larry F. Rinehart, Matthew D. Celeskey, Davis S. Berman & Amy C. … Read more
In Depth Aerosaurus is considered to have been a precursor to later varanopid amniotes like Varanops, yet there are some questions as to the true nature of Aerosaurus. The teeth of Aerosaurus are sharp and recurved backwards like those of a predator, yet they are very tightly packed so that they form a continuous row … Read more
In Depth At the time of its description, Archaeovenator is the oldest known varanopid amniote. In like Archaeovenator would have resembled a small lizard, and it may have hunted for invertebrates as it scampered around the Carboniferous forests. Further Reading - Archaeovenator hamiltonensis, a new varanopid Synapsida: Eupelycosauria from the Upper Carboniferous of Kansas, R. … Read more