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 upper jaw is set with teeth which are more uniform in size and
there is but little tendency to heterodonty. These teeth are also
striated at their base and all end in a sharp point. They are all,
apparently, straight. There is no tendency to curve as there is in the
genus _Macrerpeton_. The upper teeth are more closely set than are
those of the lower jaw, which are rather distantly placed.
"Another specimen of a smaller individual presents the same portions
of the skeleton and the same characters. It is possible that this
skull will be found to belong to _Ichthycanthus ohiensis_ Cope, which
is based on very large vertebræ and limb bones. The remains described
as _Leptophractus lineolatus_ are, however, unlike any other skull
remains which are thus far known.
"This species represents one of the largest types of the Carboniferous
Amphibia of Ohio. It probably attained a length of several feet. It
was also the most carnivorous of any of the forms."
Measurements of the Type Specimen of Leptophractus lineolatus Cope.
mm.
Length of specimen, as preserved 98
Depth of dentary bone at the middle 30
Anteroposterior diameter of mandibular tooth at base 3.5
Length of a posterior mandibular tooth 9
Length of longest tooth in jaw 22
Anteroposterior diameter of the same at base 6
Length of small maxillary tooth 7
Anteroposterior diameter of same at base 2
Collected by Dr. J. S. Newberry. Other specimens of the species are Nos.
1086 G and 1087 G, American Museum.
=Eurythorax sublævis Cope.=[C]
[Footnote C: Dr. Hussakof now regards (Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., vol.
35, p. 128, 1916) the type specimen of this species as an opercular
element of one of the dipnoan fishes [_Sagenodus sublævis_ (Cope)]. The
discussion is left here, however, as a matter of historical interest.]
Cope, Proc. Am. Phil. Soc., p. 177, 1871.
Cope, Geol. Surv. Ohio, II, pt. II, p. 401, pl. xl, fig. 4, 1875.
Type: Specimen No. 8605 G, American Museum of Natural History, Collection
of Dr. J. S. Newberry.
Horizon and locality: Linton, Ohio, Coal Measures.
The genus and species were established on a single, large, almost perfect
interclavicle of peculiar form. It may or may not be distinct, but it
can not be associated definitely with any known genus, so that it will
be designated as Cope described it. It exhibits on its outer or lateral
borders broad, smooth surfaces for the contact of the overlapping margins
of the lateral plates. The form is subround, with a large excavation from
the posterior margin on each side. The narrowed portion left in the middle
behind has a convex outline. Some delicate radiating grooves occur on the
exposed surface, but they are very shallow.
Measurements of Type.
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