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 portions of the animal which are preserved are the impression of
the skull with one orbit, the right humerus and radius with portions of
others, and traces of ventral scutellæ. These remains are so intermingled
with the remains of plants that it has been quite difficult to distinguish
bone impression from plants. This, however, has been done by whitening the
fossils with ammonium chloride, when the texture of the fossils serves
to distinguish the one from the other. Parts of the plants have been
converted into galena and kaolin, as have also parts of the bones, so the
task has been rendered doubly difficult. There can be no doubt, however,
that the observations recorded below are correct. The position of the
arm in relation to the pectoral girdle and the position of the girdle in
relation to the skull impression first called attention to the possible
presence of a fossil amphibian.
There is little to be said of the skull. It is merely an impression in the
nodule. It is triangular in form, with the snout an acute angle. The angle
is, however, exaggerated by the compression to which the fossil has been
subjected. The right side of the skull lies over a portion of some plant.
The animal is preserved on its back, so that this gives a good opportunity
for the study of the pectoral girdle, which is partially preserved.
The interclavicle is very large and from it the species has been given
its specific name (_thoracatus_--armed with a breast plate). It is an
exaggerated =T=, with the stem very short with its anterior margin
curved, and ending in a rather sharp, elongate point. The interclavicle
recalls, in a measure, the same element of the Branchiosauria, although
it is much more expanded anteriorly and has a shorter spine. In these
respects it resembles more nearly a reptilian interclavicle (fig. 14 B).
The clavicle is of the simple triangular shape so characteristic of the
Microsauria. It is somewhat displaced backward and its inner margin is
slightly obscured. The humerus is elongate, apparently cylindrical, and
with expanded ends, resembling very closely the humerus of _Amphibamus
grandiceps_, although its proportions are much greater than in that
species. Its length is almost equal to the length of the skull, while in
_A. grandiceps_ the length of the humerus is only half that of the skull.
The radius (ulna?) resembles in its general proportions those of the
humerus. It is a more elongate, slender, lighter bone. The impression of
the other bone of the forearm is obscured.
A portion of a single vertebral centrum from the posterior part of the
dorsal series is preserved. It is apparently amphicœlous; its width is
nearly half greater than its length.
Measurements of the Type of Amphibamus thoracatus Moodie.
(No. 4306, U. S. National Museum.)
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