Microposaurus

My-kro-poe-sore-us.
Published on

Nisha Yadav

Physicist

Nisha Yadav is a dedicated physicist whose work bridges the gap between physics and paleontology. With a deep interest in the processes that preserve ancient life, she explores how physical principles govern fossilization and the preservation of extinct species.

Cite Feedback Print

Name

Microposaurus (small face lizard).

Phonetic

My-kro-poe-sore-us.

Named By

Sidney H.‭ ‬Houghton‭ ‬-‭ ‬1925.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Amphibia,‭ ‬Temnospondyli,‭ ‬Stereospondyli,‭ ‬Trematosauridae,‭ ‬Trematosaurinae.

Diet

Piscivore/Carnivore.

Species

M.‭ ‬casei‭

Size

Unavailable.

Known locations

Australia‭ ‬-‭ ‬Ashfield Shale Formation.‭ ‬South Africa‭ ‬-‭ ‬Burgersdorp Formation.

Time Period

Anisian of the Triassic.

Fossil representation

Partial skulls and post cranial remains.

In Depth

       Microposaurus is a genus of stereospondyl amphibian that lived during the early Triassic.‭ ‬For a long time Microposaurus fossils were only known from South Africa,‭ ‬but in‭ ‬2012‭ ‬a description of Microposaurus fossils from Australia was published.‭ ‬This also saw the creation of a second Microposaurus species,‭ ‬M.‭ ‬averyi.‭ ‬Fossil remains from Jordan have also been interpreted as being very similar to the known remains of Microposaurus.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬Investigations in South African fossil reptiles and amphibians‭ (‬Part‭ ‬13‭)‬.‭ ‬Annals of the South African Museum‭ ‬22:227-261‭ ‬-‭ ‬Sidney H.‭ ‬Houghton‭ ‬-‭ ‬1925. -‭ ‬Cranial anatomy and relationships of Microposaurus casei,‭ ‬a temnospondyl from the MiddleTriassic of South Africa‭ ‬-‭ ‬Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology,‭ ‬24‭(‬3‭)‬:‭ ‬533‭–‬541‭ ‬-‭ ‬Ross Damani‭ ‬-‭ ‬2004. -‭ ‬A trematosauroid temnospondyl from the Middle Triassic of Jordan‭ ‬-‭ ‬Fossil Record‭ ‬14‭ (‬2‭)‬:‭ ‬119‭–‬127‭ ‬-‭ ‬R.‭ ‬R.‭ ‬Schoch‭ ‬-‭ ‬2011. -‭ ‬The South African stereospondyl Microposaurus from the Middle Triassic of the Sydney Basin,‭ ‬Australia.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology‭ ‬32‭(‬3‭)‬:538-544‭ ‬-‭ ‬A.‭ ‬Warren‭ ‬-‭ ‬2012.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT