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Primitive reptiles. A review

1912; Wiley; Volume: 23; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/jmor.1050230404

1097-4687

S. W. Williston,

Amphibian and Reptile Biology

The evidence seems now conclusive that th.e extensive American reptilian fauna hitherto called Permian is in part of upper Pennsylvanian, in part of lower Permian age, and, therefore, is the oldest known.From other parts of the world there are only a few known forms supposed to be of equivalent, or approximately equivalent, age, the chief of which, if not the only ones, are Stereosternum and Mesosaurus from the Santa Catherina System of Brazil, the latter genus also from the upper Dwyka of South Africa.From immediately superjacent beds in South Africa, doubtless of lower Permian age, but one or two reptiles are known, Archaeosuchus and Eccasaurus, referred by Broom, the former at least, to the dinocephalian group of the Therapsida.From the Beaufort beds, upper and lower, of Africa, numerous genera of reptiles are known, referred to the Cotylosauria and Therapsida.Because of the close affinity or identity of some of'these genera with those found in Russia, they doubtless should all be considered of upper Permian age, as distinguished from lower Permian.From the Rothliegende of Germany and France, of lower Permian age, the following genera of reptiles are known: Stephanospondy lus, Phanerosaurus, Datheosaurus, Stereorhachis, Kadaliosaurus, Callibrachion, Aphelosaurus, and Paleohatteria (Haptodus).Leaving Archaeosuchus and Eccasaurus out of account in the following discussion, the present paper will deal with the carboniferous and lower Permian reptiles only, including 637 * This term (1903) had become established in paleontological literature before Gaupp ('OS), in ignorance of its use, proposed the name goniale for the same bone.