|
LIST OF THE RICHARDS SPUR (FORT SILL) TETRAPOD PALEOFAUNA Stratigraphic chart of the lower Permian (partial) Content updated November 05, 2006
|
BATROPETES FRITSCHI Lepospondyli- Microsauria-Microbrachomorpha-Brachystelechidae The history of Batropetes fritschi identity is quite complicate, some specimens were described as reptiles, (Batropetes truncatus) other as microsaurs (Brachystelechus fritschia). It was only in 1991 that Carroll was able, thanks to a new well preserved specimen, to recognize that these specimens belong to the same species, named Batropetes fritschi. Batropetes is a microsaur of the suborder Microbrachomorpha, characterized by the enlarged parietal that reach the postorbital and reduced tabular, and belongs also to the family Brachystelechidae so it lacks postparietals, the large parietals are embayed posteriorly, it have cuspate premaxillary teeth, jaw articular anterior to occipital condyle, no more than 21 presacral vertebrae, well developed limbs. Characteristic of Batropetes are the narrow rod like ventral scales very similar to the amniote ones |