Galechirus

Gal-e-ky-russ.
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Liam Carter

Paleoanthropologist

Liam Carter explores the roots of humanity by studying early human fossils and artifacts. His ground-breaking work has provided a deeper understanding of our ancestors' lifestyles and social structures.

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Name

Galechirus.

Phonetic

Gal-e-ky-russ.

Named By

Robert Broom‭ ‬-‭ ‬1907.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Synapsida,‭ ‬Therapsida,‭ ‬Anomodontia.

Diet

Insectivore.

Species

G.‭ ‬scholtzi‭

Size

About‭ ‬30‭ ‬centimetres long.

Known locations

South Africa‭ ‬-‭ ‬Abrahamskraal Formation.

Time Period

Capitanian of the Permian.

Fossil representation

Several individuals.

In Depth

       Usually identified as an anomodont,‭ ‬Galechirus has also been considered by some to possibly represent a dicynodont.‭ In general appearance,‭ ‬Galechirus seems to have looked more like a regular lizard than your typical therapsid,‭ ‬which may indicate the Galechirus‭ ‬genus was a late surviving primitive form.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬On Some New Fossil Reptiles from the Karroo Beds of Victoria West,‭ ‬South Africa.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society‭ ‬18:31-42.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Robert Broom‭ ‬-‭ ‬1907.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT