Gephyrosaurus

Gephyrosaurus
Temporal range: Early Jurassic, 195 Ma
↓
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Rhynchocephalia
Family: †Gephyrosauridae
Genus: †Gephyrosaurus
Evans, 1980
Species: † G. bridensis
Binomial name
Gephyrosaurus bridensis
Evans, 1980

Gephyrosaurus is a genus of early Rhynchocephalia first described and named in 1980 by Susan E. Evans.[1] They are distantly related to the extant Sphenodon (tuatara of New Zealand) with which they shared a number of skeletal features including a large tooth row along the side of the palatine bone (part of the palate) and posterior process of the dentary bone (part of the lower jaw). They lived during Early Jurassic in Wales, UK. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9][10] The primitive cranial features of this organism places it within the order of Eosuchia. [2]

Anatomical Description

Limbs

Observation of the skeletal elements of Gephyrosaurus bridensis makes it evident that this was very much a lizard-like creature.[2] It possessed relatively long, slender legs which would allow it to run quickly in pursuit of prey or in escape from larger predators.[2] While many small lizards are able to climb trees, it is possible this organism was not fully arboreal although it possessed strong legs and claws which would make it possible to climb.[2] It is unlikely Gephyrosaurus was bipedal. [2]

Vertebrae

Two distinct vertebrae from Gephyrosaurus bridensis were described, and these vertebrae are very similar to the modern Rhychocephalian Sphenodon, providing strong evidence that the two genera are related [2]

Behavior

Gephyrosaurus was a terrestrial reptile and is assumed to be an insectivore that used a patient feeding strategy as it waited for prey to arrive. [4] High incidence of jaw fractures found among specimens infers that this animal was potentially territorial and would attack those who crossed into their home range. [4]

References

  1. ↑ Evans, S.E. 1980. The skull of a new eosuchian reptile from the Lower Jurassic of South Wales. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 70: 203–264.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Evans, Susan E. (1981). "The postcranial skeleton of the Lower Jurassic eosuchian Gephyrosaurus bridensis". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 73 (1): 81–116. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1981.tb01580.x.
  3. ↑ Evans, S.E. 1981. Caudal autonomy in a lower Jurassic Eosuchian. Copeia 1981: 883-884.
  4. 1 2 3 Evans, Susan E. (August 16, 1983). "Mandibular Fracture and Inferred Behavior in a Fossil Reptile". Copeia 1983 (3): 845–847. doi:10.2307/1444363.
  5. ↑ Evans, S.E. 1985. Tooth replacement in the Lower Jurassic lepidosaur Gephyrosaurus bridensis. Neues Jahrbuch fuir Geologie und Paliontologie, Monatshefte 7:411-420.
  6. ↑ Evans, S.E. 2003. At the feet of the dinosaurs: the early history and radiation of lizards. Biological Reviews, 78:513-551. doi:10.1017/S1464793103006134
  7. ↑ Jones, M.E.H. 2008. Skull shape and feeding strategy in Sphenodon and other Rhynchocephalia (Diapsida: Lepidosauria). Journal of Morphology 269: 945–966. doi:10.1002/jmor.10634
  8. ↑ Gill, P.G., Säilä, L.K., Corfe, I.J., Challands, T.J., Williams, M., Clemens, W.A. 2006. The fauna and palaeoenvironment of St. Brides Island: Evidence from the lower Jurassic fissure fills of South Wales. In Ninth international symposium on Mesozoic terrestrial ecosystems and biota. (ed. P. M. Barrett & S. E. Evans), pp 48−51. London: Natural History Museum.
  9. ↑ Jones, M.E.H. 2009. Dentary tooth shape in Sphenodon' and its fossil relatives (Diapsida: Lepidosauria: Rhynchocephalia). In Koppe, T., Meyer, G., Alt, K.W., eds. Interdisciplinary Dental Morphology, Frontiers of Oral Biology (vol 13). Griefswald, Germany; Karger. 9–15.
  10. ↑ http://paleobackup.nceas.ucsb.edu:8090/cgi-bin/bridge.pl
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