Notice of a Fragment of a Reptilian Skull from the Upper Cretaceous of Grünbach
1870; Geological Society of London; Volume: 26; Issue: 1-2 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1144/gsl.jgs.1870.026.01-02.35
ISSN2058-105X
Autores Tópico(s)Ichthyology and Marine Biology
ResumoAbstract T he bone described by the author was found by Prof. Suess in a coal-mine belonging to the Gosau formation at Grünbach, near Wiener Neustadt, from which Prof. Suess obtained numerous other bones also belonging to terrestrial reptiles. The author stated that the reptilian character of the bone appeared at the first glance, as it shows a single condyle and a temporal fossa resembling that of a Crocodile; but it has some peculiarities, such as the convexity of the occiput and its gentle passage into the roof of the skull, without forming an angle as in other reptiles, the transverse ridge in the occipital region, the want of sutures between the bones, the globular form of the condyle, the horizontality of the base, the ascending direction of the clivus, and the large brain-cavity, which render it impossible to refer the animal to which this bone belonged to any recognized order of Reptiles. The known skulls of Dinosaurians have a steep occiput, and exhibit more of the Lacertilian type; the fragment described by the author rather resembled that of a bird. The author consequently suggested the formation of a new order of fossil Reptiles, Ornithocephala , nearly allied to the Ornithoscelida of Prof. Huxley. For the animal of which this fragment is the only known relic, the author proposed the generic name of Struthiosaurus .
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