The Coal Measures Amphibia of North AmericaMoodie, Roy Lee
Science
The Coal Measures Amphibia of North America
Moodie, Roy Lee
Amphibians, Fossil -- North America; Paleontology -- Carboniferous; Paleontology -- North America
The body of the present species is elongate and slender, with a long neck
and probably a long tail. Ribs, as preserved, are 19 to 22, though there
may possibly have been more. They are moderately curved backwards, have
intercentral articulation, are attenuated at the distal extremity, and are
single-headed. The anterior ribs are stouter, with a widened upper portion
and attenuated distal part. The posterior ribs are more slender.
[Illustration: Fig. 20. Cope's drawing of Tuditanus longipes, from the
Linton, Ohio, Coal Measures. × 1.]
There are evidences of 28 vertebræ present. All regions of the vertebral
column are present and the dorsal region is preserved entire. The
cervical series is represented by the posterior vertebræ only. These are
very indistinctly preserved. The dorsal vertebræ are elongate and were
probably amphicœlous, although this has not been definitely determined.
They are expanded at each end, thus ending in a slightly raised rim. The
single-headed ribs articulate between the vertebræ. The exact number of
the dorsal series can not be ascertained, although this may have been
25. The spines of the vertebræ are not determinable, since the animal is
preserved on its back. The caudal vertebræ are represented by two patches
of the remains of what was once probably the entire series. Cope ascribes
70 mm. to the tail, but I do not find that much. The specimen may have
been mutilated since he studied it. The caudals are slender and, like the
dorsals, are expanded at the extremities.
The scapular arch is not preserved, but the pelvic arch is represented by
the two iliac bones in good state of preservation. These are short, flat
bones expanded at the anterior extremity, as preserved. They lie turned
a little to each side of the vertebral column and partially obscure the
femora. The iliac bones are quite characteristic of this form, since
similar-shaped elements have not been observed in any of the other
Carboniferous forms from the same deposit.
The greater part of the forelimb is preserved, although much of the hand
is missing. The humerus is an unusually elongate bone and lies somewhat
across the vertebral column. It is crushed flat and the ends are partly
destroyed. It shows evidences of expansion at the ends, although not a
great deal. It is much longer than the radius and ulna, which are of about
equal length. The ulna is larger than the radius and has expanded ends,
with the upper end more expanded than the lower and both ends slightly
truncate. The radius is a simple rod of bone and is but slightly expanded.
The carpus was evidently cartilaginous, since there is no evidence of
osseous material in its place. There is but one phalangeal bone preserved,
and, since this is displaced with reference to the ulna and radius, its
position can not be determined. It may have been a metacarpal. It is short
and expanded at the ends.
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