Name:
Biarmosuchus
(Biarma crocodile).
Phonetic: Bee-arm-oh-soo-kuss.
Named By: Tchudinov - 1960.
Synonyms: Biarmosaurus antecessor,
Biarmosuchus antecessor, Biarmosuchus tagax, Chthomaloporus
lenocinator, Eotitanosuchus olsoni?, Ivantosaurus ensifer?.
Classification: Chordata, Synapsida, Therapsida,
Biarmosuchia, Biarmosuchidae.
Species: B. tener (type), B.
tchudinovi.
Type: Carnivore.
Size: 1.5-2 meters long.
Known locations: Russia, Perm region.
Time period: Wuchiapingian of the Permian.
Fossil representation: Several partial skeletons.
Biarmosuchus
is noted as being a primitive theraspid, the group of mammal like
reptiles that evolved from the pelycosaurs, and whose descendents would
go onto becoming the first mammals.
As
a predator, Biarmosuchus was likely a fast hunter
capable of running
down its prey. This is evidenced by its long slender limbs that carried
the body high off the ground by supporting the body from underneath
instead of being sprawled out to the sides like its pelycosaur
ancestors. Further the feet also point forwards indicating frequent
forward locomotion at speed.
The
dentition of Biarmosuchus is composed of eight
smaller incisors at the
front, followed by six canine teeth either side towards the middle. The
first two of these canines were much larger than the others and were
likely the main weapons that Biarmosuchus employed
to hold onto prey
and possibly deliver a killing bite.
As
is commonly seen in predators, the skull of Biarmosuchus
is wider at
the rear than the snout. This has the effect of angling the eyes
slightly forwards and enhancing prey detection. The extra width also
allows for more powerful bite muscles, greatly increasing the killing
potential of the canine teeth.
Further reading
- Late Permian terrestrial vertebrates, USA and USSR. - Transactions of
the American Philosophical Society, new series, 52: 1–224. - E. C.
Plsen - 1962.
- New Facts about the Fauna of the Upper Permian of the USSR - Journal
of Geology, 73:117-- 30 - P. K. Chudibov - 1965.
- Biarmosuches from the Ocher Faunal Assemblage of Eastern Europe. -
Paleontological Journal, v. 33, n. 3, p. 289-296. - M. F. Ivakhnenko -
1999.