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 form of the head is probably elongate, and the muzzle neither
very obtuse nor elongate. The orbit is rather small, and near the
middle of the length of the specimen, which is, however, incomplete at
both ends. The sculpture of the surface of the head posterior to the
orbits, as well as round their borders and for some distance in front
of them, consists of a rather coarse pitting. On the middle line,
between the orbits and on the muzzle, the intervals become narrower,
and are confluent into transverse ridges or a delicate reticulation.
The surface of the mandible displays a coarse reticulation.
"The teeth are stoutly conic, and with delicately striate grooved
cementum. They are slightly recurved.
"This species differs from the _T. radiatus_ and _T. obtusus_ in the
absence of the area into which the sculpture is thrown.
"Longitudinal diameter of orbit, 19 mm.; length of alveolar border
supporting three teeth, 13 mm.; diameter of base of tooth, 3 mm.;
eight pits in 10 mm.
"Dedicated to Professor T. H. Huxley, _facile princeps_ among English
systematists, and an important contributor to the knowledge of the
extinct Batrachia."
The following discussion of the cranial elements, based on the writer's
studies (462, 465) of the type, may be appended to Professor Cope's
original description. The sutures bounding a few of the elements have
been made out in part. The prefrontal element seems well assured. It lies
well in front of the orbit, much as in the skull of _Capitosaurus_ from the
Keuper of Europe. The lacrimal is, apparently, a very large bone, though
its entire extent is not assured.
The maxilla is a long, narrow element on the border of the skull. The
suture separating this from the lacrimal and jugal is quite clear. The
teeth which the maxilla undoubtedly bore are hidden by the remains of the
mandible, which lies partly on the edge of the skull. The jugal is a very
large element and its boundaries seem well assured. Its size and relations
recall the condition in Capitosaurus. It forms a part of the external
boundary of the orbit. The lateral suture of the postorbital is evident
and is, as shown in the figure, somewhat curved. The remaining elements
preserved on the fragmentary skull can not be accurately determined,
though their probable position is indicated in plate 30, fig. 2, the
lettering being based on the arrangement of these elements in Capitosaurus.
The lower jaw is poorly preserved, but what remains shows evidence of
being sculptured somewhat after the manner of the cranial elements. It
bore strong recurved teeth which are longitudinally striate.
Measurements of the Type Specimen of Macrerpeton huxleyi Cope.
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