Nikkasaurus

Nik-kah-sor-us.
Published on

Benjamin Gutierrez

Vertebrate Paleontologist

Benjamin Gutierrez is a leading expert on dinosaurs, particularly the mighty theropods. His fieldwork in South America has uncovered new species and provided insights into dinosaur social structures.

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Name

Nikkasaurus.

Phonetic

Nik-kah-sor-us.

Named By

M.‭ ‬F.‭ ‬Ivakhnenko‭ ‬-‭ ‬2000.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Synapsoda,‭ ‬Therapsida.

Diet

‬Insectivore‭?

Species

N.‭ ‬tatarinovi

Size

Skulls about‭ ‬5‭ ‬centimetres long.

Known locations

Russia.

Time Period

Mid Permian.

Fossil representation

Skull.

In Depth

       Although Nikkasaurus is a therapsid,‭ ‬the skull bears a superficial resemblance to varanopid pelycosaurs in terms of overall proportions and shape.‭ ‬Nikkasaurus lived in Russia during the Permian.

Further Reading

– The Nikkasauridae-Problematic Primitive Therapsids from the Late Permian of the Mezen Localities. – Paleontol. J.34 (Suppl. 2), 179–186. – M. F. Ivakhnenko – 2000.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT

varanus priscus a.k.a Megalania