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
One hind limb is preserved nearly entire and the greater part of the other
is also preserved, although some of the phalanges are disturbed. The
femur is slender and more elongate than the humerus. It has well-formed,
rounded, articular ends. The tibia presents unusual characters in that
its ends are truncate, as though the cartilage composing its articular
surfaces was not so highly calcified as in the other limb bones. It
is somewhat expanded at the ends and is throughout its length broader
than the femur. The fibula, like the tibia, is a slender rod of bone,
although it is somewhat shorter than the tibia. The tarsus is unossified
and its position is occupied by a blank space. Portions of both feet
are preserved, but only one digit in the right foot is complete. The
metatarsals are elongate and slightly expanded at the ends. There are
4 phalanges present in the complete digit, which possibly represents
the fourth. The first digit is wanting, with the only terminal phalanx
preserved claw-like.
Measurements of the Type of Tuditanus minimus Moodie.
mm.
Median length of skull 15
Width of skull at posterior border 16
Length of orbit 3.5
Width of orbit 2
Interorbital width 2.5
Length of clavicle 6
Width of clavicle, maximum 3.5
Length of interclavicle, estimated 5
Width of interclavicle 3.5
Length of scapula 3.5
Width of scapula, maximum 2.5
Length of coracoid (?) 2
Length of humerus 4
Length of radius and ulna 3
Length of metacarpal 1
Length of ilium 2.5
Length of femur 4.5
Length of tibia and fibula 3
Length of foot 3.5
Length of metatarsal .75
=Tuditanus walcotti Moodie.=
Moodie, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., XXXVII, p. 16, pl. 6, figs. 1, 2; pl.
7; 1909.
Type: Specimen No. 4474, U. S. National Museum.
Horizon and locality: Linton, Ohio, Coal Measures.
A small species of Microsauria is preserved as a smooth impression on a
block of soft coal from Linton, Ohio. Nearly the entire form of the body
is discernible. The specimen is especially interesting and valuable as
exhibiting for the first time among the Linton forms the shape of the
body of the small microsaurians of the Tuditanus type. It differs so
markedly in the form of the skull from other species of the genus that
it is regarded as a distinct form, and the name _Tuditanus walcotti_ was
proposed for it as an expression of the writer's indebtedness to the
Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution for the vise of the material
among which the present form was included.
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