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 vertebral column is represented by little more than a mold of the
form of the vertebræ, so that little can be said of its character. The
individual vertebræ are short and hour-glass-shaped. The ribs are borne
intercentrally, as in all the microsaurians which have been studied from
the Linton deposits. The ribs are rather long and somewhat heavy, slightly
curved and expanded at the proximal end, as though an incipient bicipital
condition were present.
The right clavicle, which is preserved as an impression, is entire. Its
impression shows this element to have been ornamented on its ventral
surface with radiating grooves and ridges which started at the lower angle
of the bone. The element is distinctly triangular, which is characteristic
of the genus _Tuditanus_, so far as known. The fragment of the left
clavicle adds nothing to our knowledge of the element.
The left humerus recalls in a striking way that of _Tuditanus longipes_
Cope, and it was once entertained as a possibility that the present
form might be a member of that species, since the skull is lacking in
_T. longipes_. Sufficient specific differences were found, however, in
the ribs, which, in _T. longipes_, are very long, slightly curved, and
delicate, but which, in the present form, are comparatively heavy. Other
characters sufficiently diagnostic are found in the form assumed by the
vertebræ in the two forms.
Measurements of the Type of Tuditanus walcotti Moodie.
mm.
Length of specimen 70
Length of skull 20
Posterior width of skull 14
Width of skull, anterior to orbits 10
Length of orbit 4
Width of orbit 2
Interorbital width 3
Length of clavicle 9
Greatest width of clavicle 4
Length of vertebral column, as preserved 50
Length of a vertebra 1.75
Width of a vertebra 50
Width of body impression 15
Length of humerus 6
Median width of humerus 50
Width at end of humerus 2
Length of rib 8
Width of rib 25
The above-described specimen was collected by Mr. R. D. Lacoe, of
Pittston, Pennsylvania, from Linton, Ohio.
A second individual (No. 4481, U. S. National Museum) of this species is
indicated by a rather poorly preserved specimen on a slab of soft coal
from the Linton mines. The following portions of the animal have been
detected and will be discussed: partial impression of the skull, with a
fragment of a minute jaw, in which are minute teeth; right clavicle; part
of the impression of the body; nearly entire left hind limb; impressions
of about a dozen vertebræ, very indistinct.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account