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Anomalous Reptiles: Permian

Leaving now the Anomodonts, we pass on to consider another order-the Proterosauria. In America and France the subject has been studied by Professors Cope¹ and Gaudry. The former palæontologist has described, amongst others, such remarkable 1 History of the Vertebrata of the Permian Formation of Texas, by Professor E. D. Cope, Pal. Bull, No. 32. forms as Eryops (Fig. 20), Empedias, and Dimetrodon. As these are not completely known, we have refrained from attempting to restore them. Perhaps the most remarkable is the Dimetrodon 1 (see Fig. 33) belonging to the order Pelycosauria. Not only was the skull provided with formidable tusks, but the vertebræ of the back present a new feature in having very long neural spines. In one species the height of the spine is actually more than twenty times the length of the centrum! According to Professor Cope, these spines formed a kind of elevated fin on the back, of which it is difficult to imagine the use; but then there are many living animals with bony structures which, if only known in a fossil state, would greatly puzzle every one. Plate XIII. shows a photograph of a restoration of the allied Naosaurus from Permian strata of Texas, for which the writer is indebted to Professor H. F. Osborn. We will take Proterosaurus next. The skull is more lizard-like than crocodilian. There are mainly two interpretations of this fossil. (1) Cuvier and Huxley class it unreservedly with the lizards. (2) Von Meyer and Owen consider that it represents a new type of reptile. Von Meyer published an elaborate monograph on the subject, with nine folio plates (1856). Professor Seeley also considers that it shows no particular affinity with any living group of reptiles. It evidently came of a very ancient stock. With regard to its habits, Owen concluded that it was an aquatic animal. He says, "The strength of its neck and head, and the sharpness of its teeth, enabled it to seize and overcome the struggles of the active fishes of the waters which deposited the old Thuringian copper-slates." There can be but little doubt, however, that it was capable of walking on land as well as of disporting itself in the water Certain ganoid fishes 1 Greek-dis, double; metron, measure; odous, tooth.

PLATE XIII.