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 boundaries of the premaxillæ are indefinite, but what remains of
the sutures indicates that the elements were small. No teeth have been
detected. The nasal is likewise not clearly defined, but the frontal
is an elongate element which occupies the space between the orbits and
joins the parietal posteriorly. The parietals form a large oval space, so
characteristic of many of the Carboniferous Microsauria, in the anterior
third of which occurs the median parietal foramen. The postparietal is
almost square, and forms part of the posterior boundary of the skull.
The tabulare has the usual position and relations. The prefrontal is
ill defined. The postfrontal is small and forms a slender rod on the
postero-inner boundary of the orbit. The postorbital is small and its
bounding suture with the postfrontal is indefinite. The jugal is only
partially represented in the specimen, and that part forms the outer
boundary of the orbit. The maxillary sutures are not defined. There are
no evidences of teeth, since the skull is compressed dorso-ventrally. The
quadratojugal is, apparently, a larger element than usual, with the visual
relations. The supratemporal lies in great part in front of the squamosal,
but still has the normal relations of that element. The squamosal is the
characteristic feature of the skull. It is very tumid at its base and
projects into a long, slender, acuminate horn, the tumid portion being
ornamented by radiating striæ.
Another specimen of this species presents the greater part of the
skeleton. However, very little can be added to our knowledge of the skull
structure. It is barely possible that the second specimen may be distinct
from the type. The horns are curved inward, but otherwise there is little
or no difference. One of the most interesting and important features
of the complete specimen is the unusual preservation of a leg, with
impressions of 15 or more vertebra;, and traces of curved ribs which are
intercentral in position.
The femur is slender and expanded at the ends, with the articular surfaces
well formed. The tibia and fibula are mere rods of bone, although the
tibia has slightly expanded extremities. There is no osseous tarsus.
There are 5 digits in the foot; the second one is entire and contains 4
phalanges; the other digits are incomplete. The foot is remarkably long
and slender, and is fully as long as the tarsal space plus the tibia, with
the terminal phalanx clawed.
There are impressions of 2 oval and elongate clavicles in the pectoral
region. The outer end is not expanded as is usual, and the surface is
ornamented with grooves and ridges which radiate from a common center.
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