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Stratigraphic chart of the lower Permian (partial) Content updated October 16, 2005
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EDAPHOSAURUS Synapsida-Eupelycosauria-Edaphosauridae
Edaphosaurus is a medium to large size synapsid eupelycosaur edaphosaurid characterized by the presence of a dorsal sail. Edaphosaurus fossils (mainly neural spines fragments) were found in North America and Europe. The vertebrae have a ventral ridge but not the sharp keeled centra of sphenacodontid, the elongated neural spines have lateral processes, the basioccipital have a strongly developed ventral medial ridge, that arises from the lip of the condyle and merges anteriorly in the basioccipital body, the supraglenoid foramen is placed between the ridges of supraglenoid buttress, as in Ophiacodon, but the three elements of the shoulder girdle tend to fuse at an early stage, so the sutures, in general, are not visible. 1) Edaphosaurus basioccipital: lateral 2) Edaphosaurus same basioccipital: ventral 3) Edaphosaurus same basioccipital: posterior 4) Edaphosaurus vertebra: lateral view 5) Edaphosaurus same vertebra: ventral view 6) Edaphosaurus neural spine: posterior 7) Edaphosaurus neural spine base: lateral 8) Edaphosaurus same neural spine base: posterior 9) Edaphosaurus scapulocoracoid: lateral 10) Edaphosaurus same scapulocoracoid: medial |