Leptopleuron

Lep-to-plu-ron.
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Claire Morris

Marine Paleontologist

Claire Morris has dedicated her career to exploring the depths of prehistoric oceans. Her fascination with ancient marine life has led her to discover significant fossils that illuminate the evolution of early sea creatures.

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Name

Leptopleuron.

Phonetic

Lep-to-plu-ron.

Named By

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Reptilia,‭ ‬Procolophonomorpha,‭ ‬Procolophonidae.

Diet

Uncertain but possibly herbivorous given that similar relatives in the late Triassic were more herbivorous.

Species

L.‭ ‬lacertinum‭

Size

About‭ ‬40‭ ‬centimetres long.

Known locations

Scotland‭ ‬-‭ ‬Lossiemouth Sandstone Formation.

Time Period

Carnian of the Triassic.

Fossil representation

Holotype an almost complete individual.‭ ‬At least one another specimen known.

In Depth

       Leptopleuron was a genus or procolophonid reptile that lived in Scotland during the Late Triassic.‭ ‬The exact diet of Leptopleuron is uncertain,‭ ‬though procolophonids in the late Triassic seem to be more herbivorous than earlier procolophonids were more insectivorous.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬The braincase structure of Leptopleuron lacertinum Owen‭ (‬Parareptilia:‭ ‬Procolophonidae‭)‬.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology‭ ‬20‭ (‬1‭)‬:‭ ‬21‭–‬30.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Patrick S.‭ ‬Spencer‭ ‬-‭ ‬2000. – Osteology of Leptopleuron lacertinum Owen, a procolophonoid parareptile from the Upper Triassic of Scotland, with remarks on ontogeny, ecology and affinities. – Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 101 (1): 1–25. – Laura S�il� – 2010.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT