Prehistoric Reptiles

Synapsids
This group includes mammals and the ancestors of mammals ("proto-mammals" or "mammal-like
reptiles")
Synapsid skull with just one temporal foramen
Have two or more types of teeth

rimitive and reptile-like of the Synapsids

ing posture with legs held to side
ng
but not all) had tall dorsal sail
by end of Permian Period (251 mya)

Dimetrodon fossil, Permian Period, North America (MAL1)

phyletic group (some are more closely related to cynodonts and mammals)
verse forms and lifestyles, inlcuding both herbivorous and carnivorous

somewhat sprawling (less so than Pelycosaurs)

teeth
ely short tail

Inostrancevia fossil, Permian Period, Russia (AMNH2)

phyletic subgroup of Therapsids that are most closely
to mammals
relatively small and carnivorous
ex teeth with multiple cusps (points)
ve been endothermic and with hair?

e, with ≈5000 species alive today

air (endothermy)
ary glands provide milk for young
tooth generations (teeth not continuously
d)
t posture with limbs held beneath body
Mesozoic mammals were relatively small, Palaeosinopa fossil, an otter-like mammal from a now-extinct
picuous group; Eocene Epoch (Green River Formation), WY (WDC3)
 Parareptilia
ve group of exinct reptiles
d skulls that lack temporal openings
pedal
om lizard-like, to semi-aquatic to heavy,
d herbivores
were once thought to belong to this

Captorhinus aguti skull, Permian Period, North America

(MAL)

Marine Reptiles
This is a polyphyletic grouping, for convenience united here by lifestyle rather than relationships
Fully aquatic lifestyles evolved several times independently in Mesozoic reptiles

eem to be very closely related to any other reptile groups

n-like appearance, with dorsal fin and vertical tail fluke
lender snout (some were toothless)
considerably in size

Stenopterygius fossil, Jurassic Period, Germany (WDC)

oup includes modern lizards, snakes, and the tuatara
urs are a group of Cretaceous lizards related to modern monitor lizards
urs became fully aquatic and very large
ongated body and flattened tail, moderate-sized flippers (compare to
rs)

Halisaurus fossil, late Cretaceous, North America (WDC)

 uatic reptiles living near shores
were lizard-like in shape
had extensive turtle-like dermal armor
c Period only

Keichousaurus hui fossil, Middle Triassic, China (UMS4)

uatic reptiles with elongated necks and fairly small heads
bbed feet (instead of true flippers)
ediate between Placodonts and Plesiosaurs
c Period only
marine reptiles
ippers used for swimming
elatively short, broad, and stiff, with short tail (compare Mosasaurs)
hapes range from long-necked and small headed to short-necked and large-
(Pliosaurs)

Polycotylid plesiosaur skeleton, Cretaceous Period, Morocco (WD

Basal Archosauromorphs
Here we are combining various primitive members of the Archosauromorpha into a paraphyletic group
United by various small skeletal characteristics
Shapes and lifestyles are quite varied
Appeared in Permian, reached greatest diversity in Triassic Period
Main subgroups (don't need to know) represented in lab are:
 Rhynchosauria: small, stocky herbivores with beak-like tooth plates (e.g. Hyperodapedon)
 Choristodera: Crocodile-like predators (e.g. Champsosaurus, Hyphalosaurus)
 Prolacteriformes: Varied, some lizard like and some long-necked and semi-aquatic (e.g.
Tanystropheus)
 Proterosuchidae: Odd, long-nouted reptiles (e.g. Proterosuchus)
 Euparkeria: a small, slender insect-eater with legs held beneath the body rather than
sprawling; close to the ancestry of crocodiles, dinosaurs, pterosaurs

Hyphalosaurus lingyuanensis fossil, early Cretaceous Period, China (FMNH5)

Crurotarsi
Like other archosaurs, have teeth set in sockets and antorbital and mandibular fenestrae
Distinguished by more flexible ankle joint
Surviving members include the crocodiles and alligators
Most groups (except crocodylomorphs) went extinct at end of Triassic Period
sprawling, semi-aquatic carnivores
lender snout, with nostrils close to eyes
gently resemble modern crocodiles (and especially gavials)

Leptosuchus skull, Triassic Period, North America (AMNH)

y armored with bony plates covering back, spikes on sides

ely small head
orous (convergent with Ankylosaur dinosaurs)

Desmatosuchus Skeleton, Triassic Period, Chinle Formation, Arizona (PF

minant large, terrestrial predators during the Triassic
heads
ile-like armor scutes on back
eld beneath body; hind legs longer than front (some bipedal?)

Postosuchus Skeleton, Triassic Period, Chinle Formation, Arizona (PF

pha

s modern alligators and crocodiles

lly had elongated snouts
overed in armored scutes
uatic forms (including all moderns species) had an elongated body,
d tail, and sprawling limbs (secondarily derived)
orms were terrestrial, with long legs held beneath body
ecame fully aquatic with flippers instead of legs

Steneosaurus fossil, early Jurassic Period, Europe (WDC)

Pterosauria
Capable of true powered flight
Forelimbs modified into wings: membrane stretches from tip of greatly elongated finger
When not flying they were probably quadrupedal
Perhaps all had a hair-like covering
hoidea

yletic grouping of various primitive forms

il that ends in diamond-shaped flag
ized

Rhamphorhynchus fossil, late Jurassic Period, Solnhofen Limestone, Germany (MA

ea

re derived clade of pterosaurs

lly larger sized than Rhamphorhynchoids (but size variable)
ways short
were toothless

Tapejara skeleton, Early Cretaceous, Brazil (WDC)

Herbivorous Dinosaurs
Thyreophora
Armored dinosaurs
Have rows of osteoderms (dermal armor) along neck, back & tail
Mostly quadrupedal
All are herbivorous, with shearing dentition
All are relatively small-brained
Basal Thyreophorans

Most primitive of the Thyreophorans

Armor plates are small and do not connect or form
spikes
Hind limbs longer than forelimbs: probably partially
bipedal

Stegosauria

2 rows of enlarged dorsal

osteoderms that form vertical
plates or spikes
4 spikes at end of tail
("thagomizer")
Head very small
Forelegs shorter than hindlegs

Hesperosaurus skeleton, Late Jurassic, North America (MAL1)

Ankylosauria

Osteoderms form a nearly

contiguous dorsal shell-like
covering
Body very wide and low to the
ground
Many have laterally-projecting
spikes

Gastonia skeleton, Early Cretaceous, North America (MAL)

Marginocephalia
Back of skull with bone ridge or frill
Herbivorous
Known only from Northern Hemisphere from late Jurassic to Cretaceous
Pachycephalosauri
a

Dome-
headed (or
bone-
headed)
dinosaurs
Top of skull
is greatly
thickened
(may be flat
or dome-
shaped)
Skull
Pachycephalosaurus skeleton, Late Cretaceous, North America (MAL)
usually has
various
knobs or
spikes
Bipedal
Snout ends
in broad
beak
Ceratopsia

Horned dinosaurs (though not

all have horns)
Narrow snout with parrot-like
beak
Projecting bones at side of skull
near cheek
Most have enlarged bone frill
extending from back of skull
Many have varied arrangements
of horns or spikes on skull
Dental batteries indicate
efficient chewing
Quadrupedal (except primitive
Psittacosaurus)

Albertaceratops skeleton, Late Cretaceous, Montana (WDC2)

Ornithopoda
 Beaked Dinosaurs
Relatively unspecialized body form without armor or weapons
Hind legs longer than front legs
Bipedal or semiquadrupedal
Ossified tendons stiffened large tail
Herbivorous; most chopped or chewed their food

Hypsilophodontidae

Most primitive group

of Ornithopods
Relatively small size
Bipedal; probably fast
runners

Thescelosaurus skeleton, Late Cretaceous, North America (MAL)

Iguanodontia

Paraphyletic grouping of species

intermediate
between Hypsilophodonts and
Hadrosaurids
Moderate to large size
Moved both bipedally and
quadrupedally
Necks relatively long
Generally lacked any head
ornamentation
Some had enlarged thumb
spikes

Probactrosaurus adult & juvenile skeletons, Early Cretaceous, China

(AMNH3)
Hadrosauridae

"Duck-billed Dinosaurs"
Large size
Mostly quadrupedal (but
may have run on hind legs)
Mouth generally broad and
flat
Had well-developed dental
batteries for efficient
chewing
Many with distinctive head
crests Edmontosaurus skeletons, Late Cretaceous, North America (MAL)
Uncrested forms may have
had inflatable nasal sacs

Herrerasauridae
Primitive
group of
Saurischi
an
Dinosaur
s
Bipedal
runner:
long hind
legs,
short
forelegs
Relativel
y small
Herrerasaurus skeleton, Middle Triassic,
size
Argentina (MAL)
Squarish
skull
Superfici
ally
resemble
Theropod
dinosaurs
Carnivor
ous
Evolutio
nary
relations
hips are
uncertain
(may be
primitive
members
of
Theropod
a)

Sauropodomorpha
Have very long necks
Head is proportionately small
Herbivores with weak cropping teeth
 Generally large to gigantic in size

Prosauropoda

Long necks,
small heads
Bipedal:
forelegs
smaller than
hindlegs

Plateosaurus skull, Late Triassic, Europe (MAL)

Sauropoda

Necks long to
extremely long
Heads
proportionately tiny
Quadrupedal
Tails often very long
Large to enormous
sized

Argentinosaurus skeleton, Late Cretaceous, Argentina (FMNH4)

Carnivorous Dinosaurs
 Herrerasauridae
Primitive
group of
Saurischi
an
Dinosaur
s
Bipedal
runner:
long hind
legs,
short
forelegs
Relativel
y small
Herrerasaurus skeleton, Middle Triassic,
size
Argentina (MAL1)
Squarish
skull
Superfici
ally
resemble
Theropod
dinosaurs
Carnivor
ous
Evolutio
nary
relations
hips are
uncertain
(may be
primitive
members
of
Theropod
a)

Theropoda
 All are bipedal: forelimbs shorter than hind limbs
Claws on all fingers and toes
Fairly long S-shaped necks
Relatively large head (most)
Hollow limb bones
Vertebrae with spaces for air sacs
4 toes per hind foot (outer toe lost), with one toe often vestigial (does not reach ground)
4 or fewer digits on fore limbs; one is usually somewhat opposable

Coelophysoids

The most primitive group of

theropods
4 fingers per hand (an ancestral
trait)
Small to medium-sized
Generally have a slender build
Skull usually fairly elongated
Some have crests on their heads
Known from Triassic and early
Jurassic Periods

Coelophysis fossil, Late Triassic Period, New Mexico (WDC2)

Ceratosauria

Primitive, with 4 fingers per

hand
Medium to large size
Some exhibit fairly typical
proportions for large predatory
dinosaurs
Abelisauridae is a distinctive
subgroup:
 Short, deep skulls with
various knobs, bumps
or horns
 Forelimbs greatly
Ceratosaurus skeleton, Late Jurassic Period, North America, Europe,
reduced, vestigial (but Africa (MAL)
with 4 fingers)
Carnosauria

All subsequent theropods

belong to the clade Tetanurae
 3 Fingers (or fewer)
per hand
 Tail relatively stiff
A large, diverse group of
generalized predators
Mostly large to very large size
Generally have somewhat
elongated skulls with large Giganotosaurus skeleton, Late Cretaceous Period, Argentina
orbits (FMNH3)
Many have ridge or horn above
eye (but not unique to this
group)
Note: in lab, the following
group, the Megalosauridae, will
be included
with this group under the
category "Carnosaurs"
Megalosauridae

Megalosaurs are medium to

large
Very generalized theropod
morphology; few obvious
specializations
Generally lack crests or horns
on head
Includes Megalosaurus, the first
named dinosaur
Note: in lab, this group will be
included with the above in the
"Carnosaurs"

Torvosaurus skeleton, Late Jurassic Period, North America (MAL)

Spinosauridae

Large to very large

size
Long, narrow snout
with enlarged tip
Small centrally-
located crest on
forehead
Teeth conical, without
serrations
Most likely were
piscivorous (fish Suchomimus skull, Early Cretaceous Period, Africa (MAL)
eaters)
Compsognathidae

All subsequent
Tetanurans
belong to the
clade
Coelurosauria
 Enlarge
sacrum
 Stiffen
ed tail
 Tibia
(lower
leg)
longer
than
femur
Compsognathus skeleton, Late Jurassic Period,
(upper Europe (MAL)
leg)
 Perhap
s all
had
some
sort of
feather
s or
protofe
athers
Compsognathids
 were small,
agile dinosaurs
Proportionately
long tails
At least some
(or all?) had
simple proto-
feathers

Tyrannosauroidea

All have relatively blunt snout

United by various subtle skeletal
characteristics
Primitive forms were relatively small,
resembled other coelurosaurs
Some primitive forms known to have
simple protofeathers
Derived Tyrannosaurids distinctive:
 Large size
 Proportionately large head
 Greatly reduced arms with only
2 fingers

Tyrannosaurus skeleton, Late Cretaceous Period, North

America (MAL)
Ornithomimosauria

Ostrich Dinosaurs
Slender build, with long legs,
long slender necks
Small heads that were toothless
in most (or with tiny peg-like
teeth)
Gastroliths present; probably
herbivorous or omnivorous
No evidence for or against
feathers

Struthiomimus skeleton, Late Cretaceous Period, North America

(MAL)
Oviraptosauria

Long arms and short tails

distinctive
Most were small (but at least
one large species)
Very short skulls with (usually)
toothless, parrot-like beak
Some had prominent crests on
their heads
Feathers with flat vanes that
may have functioned in display
Diet uncertain: evidence for
both herbivory and carnivory

Conchoraptor skull, Late Cretaceous Period, Asia (WDC)

Therizinosauroidea

Very unusually shaped

theropods
Size varies from small to large
Body broad and heavy, with
wide hips and short tail
Long necks with small heads
Very long arms with enormous
claws
Probably herbivorous
Loose, filamentous feathers
known from one species

Nothronychus skeleton, Late Cretaceous Period, Southwestern USA

(AMNH4)
Deinonychosauria

Commonly referred to as
"raptors"
Very small to medium size
Agile, with fairly long arms,
long fingers
Inner hind toe with a greatly
enlarged, retractible slashing
claw
Skulls elongated
Tails long and stiff
Well developed feathers with
vanes
The sister group to the birds
Troödontids (Troödon and
Anchiornis) had smaller
slashing Velociraptor skeleton, Late Cretaceous Period, Asia (WDC)
claws and smaller heads but
larger brains