#Ladinian

[psie-smutki]

Triassic palaeofauna of Miedary locality

[new-dinosaurs]

Gondwanax paraisensis Müller, 2024 (new genus and species)

(Type femur [thigh bone] of Gondwanax paraisensis, from Müller, 2024)

Meaning of name: Gondwanax = Gondwana king [in Greek]; paraisensis = from Paraíso do Sul

Age: Middle–Late Triassic (Ladinian–Carnian)

Where found: Santa Maria Formation, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

How much is known: A right femur (thigh bone), along with several vertebrae and a partial pelvis from the same site. It is unknown whether the other bones belonged to the same individual as the femur.

Notes: Gondwanax was a silesaurid, a group of probably quadrupedal Triassic reptiles that often had adaptations for herbivory (though there is evidence that they also ate insects). Until recently, silesaurids were generally considered to be close relatives of dinosaurs instead of dinosaurs themselves, and I previously excluded them from coverage on this blog. However, multiple recent analyses have suggested that they might in fact be true dinosaurs, specifically early members of Ornithischia ("bird-hipped" dinosaurs), so from here on out I will tentatively include them within this blog's purview. In fact, some of those studies have found that most "silesaurids" may not have formed a unique evolutionary group, but instead a series of lineages with some being more closely related to later ornithischians than others.

Regardless of whether it is a true dinosaur, Gondwanax is one of the oldest known dinosauromorphs (the group containing dinosaurs and their closest relatives). Compared to other dinosauromorphs of similar age, Gondwanax more closely resembles later dinosaurs in having three hip vertebrae (whereas dinosaurs ancestrally appear to have had only two). It is unusual among dinosauromorphs in having a very small fourth trochanter, a attachment point on the femur for muscles that pull the hindlimb backward.

(Schematic skeletal of Gondwanax paraisensis, with preserved bones in orange, from Müller, 2024)

Reference: Müller, R.T. 2024. A new "silesaurid" from the oldest dinosauromorph-bearing beds of South America provides insights into the early evolution of bird-line archosaurs. Gondwana Research advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.gr.2024.09.007

[pleistocene-pride]

Exaeretodon is an extinct genus of traversodontid cynodont which lived throughout what is now India and South America from the Ladinian stage to the Norian stage of the Triassic period some 235 to 205 million years ago. The naming of exaeretodon seems to have a bit of a complicated history with different specimens having been attributed to various genere such as Belesodon, Traversodon, Theropsis, Ischignathus with the later two genere now considered completely synoyomous with exarertodon. For example the type specimen consisting of a near complete skull was initially described as Belesodon argentines in Ángel Cabrera until with the help of José Bonaparte, they distinquished it as its own distinct genus. Today over 200 specimens have been recovered, some in remarkably good condition including a mother who was preserved pregnant with two calves. Four species are considered valid. E. argentinus from the the Ischigualasto Formation in the Ischigualasto-Villa Unión Basin of northwestern Argentina. E. major and E. riograndensis are from the Santa Maria Formation of the Paraná Basin in southeastern Brazil. And E. statisticae is from the Lower Maleri Formation of India. Reachign some 5 to 6ft (1.5 to 1.8m) in length and 130 to 190lbs (60 to 86kgs) in weight, exaeretodon was a fairly large low-slung creature. Despite its massive jaws and terrifying appearance, studies show its teeth were well developed to grind vegetation meaning that exaeretodon was likely a grazing herbivore. And was on of the most numerous herbivores of the middle and late Triassic southern pangea.

Art used can be found at links below

[newlabdakos]

Tanystropheus

(temporal range: 245-235 mio. years ago)

[text from the Wikipedia article, see also link above]

Tanystropheus (Greek: τανυ~ 'long' + στροφευς 'hinged') is an extinct genus of 6-meter-long (20 ft) archosauromorph reptile from the Middle and Late Triassic epochs. It is recognisable by its extremely elongated neck, which measured 3 m (9.8 ft) long—longer than its body and tail combined.[1] The neck was composed of 12–13 extremely elongated vertebrae.[2] With its very long but relatively stiff neck, Tanystropheus has been often proposed and reconstructed as an aquatic or semi-aquatic reptile, an interpretation supported by the fact that the creature is most commonly found in semi-aquatic fossil sites where known terrestrial reptile remains are scarce. Complete skeletons are common in the Besano Formation at Monte San Giorgio in Italy and Switzerland; other fossils have been found throughout Europe, North America, and Asia, dating from the Middle Triassic (Anisian and Ladinian stages) to the early part of the Late Triassic (earliest Carnian stage).

[sserrafeim]

Geological period names that would be absolute bangers in a fantasy setting:

- Hadean

- Calabrian

- Serravallian

- Lutetian

- Thanetian

- Selandian

- Aalenian

- Sinemurian

- Rhaetian

- Norian

- Ladinian

- Anisian

- Asselian

- Kasimovian

- Famennian

- Calymnian

- Orosirian

- Rhyacian

- Siderian

[wtf-triassic]

Longisquama insignis

By Tas Dixon

Etymology: Long Scales

First Described By: Sharov, 1970

Classification: Biota, Archaea, Proteoarchaeota, Asgardarchaeota, Eukaryota, Neokaryota, Scotokaryota, Opimoda, Podiata, Amorphea, Obazoa, Opisthokonta, Holozoa, Filozoa, Choanozoa, Animalia, Eumetazoa, Parahoxozoa, Bilateria, Nephrozoa, Deuterostomia, Chordata, Olfactores, Vertebrata, Craniata, Gnathostomata, Eugnathostomata, Osteichthyes, Sarcopterygii, Rhipidistia, Tetrapodomorpha, Eotetrapodiformes, Elpistostegalia, Stegocephalia, Tetrapoda, Reptiliomorpha, Amniota, Sauropsida, Eureptilia, Romeriida, Diapsida, ???

Time and Place: 242 million years ago, in the Ladinian of the Middle Triassic

Longisquama is known from the Madygen Formation of Kyrgyzstan

Physical Description: Longisquama was a small, somewhat lizard-like reptile reaching somewhere around 8 or 9 centimeters in body length from snout to tail - though this is uncertain, as tail elements are not preserved at this time. It had very large, hockey-stick shaped scales in a single row going along its back, with some of the longest scales being as long as the body of the animal - or longer, we really don’t have its tail. They go from somewhat long towards the head, reaching a peak length right after this, and then shrink in size as they go towards the tail - probably. Again, we don’t have a lot in terms of preserved elements of this animal, and while we know they were shaped like hockey sticks, there is a chance the fronds may have varied in size or shape or extended more on the back. They were attached to the spine by knob-like attachment points, similar to follicles for other integumentary structures like hair. There was probably soft tissue surrounding this follicle to keep the scale steady. The fronds had a raised ridge down the middle, with horizontal bars going up and down the length of the scale. The head of Longisquama was small, ending in a short point with tiny teeth inside, and it had a small head. It appears to have been quadrupedal - maybe, we don’t really have hind limbs - and with its legs splayed out to the side on its body. It was also quite skinny, based on the size of its ribcage. 

Diet: Longisquama was probably an insectivore, eating the variety of different insects that were present in its environment. 

Behavior: We really have no idea what the long scaled were used for. They were probably for display, nothing like feathers at all, and would have looked pretty to other Longisquama. They may have even been iridescent, much like many lizard scales, allowing them to display to each other in their deeply green and dense forested environment. There is no evidence that they would have been suitable as flying structures, and honestly beyond that we have no idea. There doesn’t seem to be evidence that they were used like Synapsid sails for cooling, either. Display is the best idea we have at this point. As for other behaviors, it probably would spend a good chunk of time in trees, and may have been social in doing so - the display structures do seem to imply a certain amount of social behavior. As far as parental care or other complex social structures, however, we have no evidence either way. 

Ecosystem: The Madygen was a deeply forested environment, with dense coniferous trees surrounding extensive lakes set in deep mud. This very wet and very green environment meant that there weren’t a lot of large animals present - instead, most of the animals were adapted for the trees and catching each other and plantlife among the branches. This extensively muddy and sticky environment means that a wide variety of animals - especially insects - were preserved well in the formation. Other creatures include the leg-glider Sharovipteryx; the Drepanosaur Kyrgyzsaurus; a mysterious probable-salamander Triassurus; a primitive cynodont Madysaurus; the Reptiliomorph Madygenerpeton; sharks such as Fayolia, Lonchidion, and Palaeoxyris; and many ray-finned fishes like Alvinia, Megaperleidus, Sixtelia, Ferganiscus, Oshia, and Saurichthys. As for insects, there too many to list: the earliest Hymenopterans (the group including wasps, bees, and ants); the great Titanopterans like Gigatian; moths, beetles, crickets, mosquitos, flies, grigs, and even mysterious Triassic insects with no close modern relatives. Seriously, you don’t want me to list them all - there’s hundreds of species on Fossilworks alone! So there was plenty for Longisquama to chow down on. 

Other: Oh Longisquama. Such a poorly preserved animal. Locked away in Russia, far away from the prying eyes of so many in this world. Unstudied, unloved. And yet, from the few photographs we have of its fossil, so many have insisted - insisted - we know exactly what it is. The enigmatic nature of Longisquama and it's completely poor fossil record (and, again, entrapment in Russia) have left it as a sort of Schrodinger’s Triassic Weirdo. What is it? What is it related to? What are those frond things? Does it play a role in the evolution of other groups? 

Here’s the thing, though. Longisquama is so poorly preserved and all we have are pictures of the fossil unless you want to go to Russia, badger some Russians, and look at the fossil - which very few people actually want to do. So, that having been said, we can’t use it for anything, basically, and we certainly can’t say anything about the fossil. 

We do know some things:

The long ribbons on Longisquama are not leaves it fell on top of. There are enough fossils of Longisquama to reinforce that it has these fronds every time, and they weren’t really shaped like any known plant leaves anyway. I know, it’s a bummer. 

It’s not a Dinosaur. It lacks Archosaur features, as far as we can tell from the fossil photos. So, if it’s not an Archosaur, it’s not a Dinosaur. 

It is not a Bird Precursor. While Longisquama - and quite a few other reptiles of the Triassic - convergently evolved similar facial features in the superficial sense to birds, they weren’t actually that similar on the skeletal level - they aren’t archosaurs! - and none of the rest of the skeleton resembles birds. Furthermore, we have one of the best transitional sequences ever known specifically for bird evolution - we have in the fossil record every step of the process from ancestral archosaur to bird, through the dinosaur family tree. The sheer number of feathered dinosaur fossils and other features found in dinosaurs such as similar hand configuration, body shapes, skeletal structures, and behaviors have left no doubt in the minds of the vast majority of scientists that birds are dinosaurs and, therefore, not descendants of Longisquama. 

It’s not a Pterosaur precursor. Literally all studies of its classification puts it far away from pterosaurs; furthermore, there are no clear links between Longisquama and the early pterosaurs of the Triassic period. While Pterosaur evolution isn’t quite as clear as bird evolution, we also have decent reason to believe pterosaurs are Archosaurs; meaning, Longisquama isn’t their ancestor. 

The fronds aren’t feathers. Even if feathers were that deep in terms of reptile ancestry that it was retained through many stages of evolution from Longisquama to early dinosaurs and pterosaurs, there is no evidence for this trait in living non-avian reptiles like Crocodilians (no, they don’t carry a feather gene, they just have the same protein that feathers are made out of) or Lizards, and thus the odds of these being weird pre-feathers is low. Instead, they are most likely highly modified scales. 

So, what is it? We don’t know. Maybe a Drepanosaur (more on those weirdos later). Maybe just a completely separate lineage of Triassic Weirdos. Probably an Archosauromorph? Maybe something else entirely? A Diapsid. We know it was a Diapsid. And that will have to be enough for now. 

~ By Meig Dickson 

Sources Under the Cut

Alifanov, V. R., and E. N. Kurochkin. 2011. Kyrgyzsaurus bukhanchenkoi gen. et sp. nov., a new reptile from the Triassic of southwestern Kyrgyzstan. Paleontological Journal 45(6):42-50. 

Fischer, J.; Voigt, S.; Schneider, J.W.; Buchwitz, M.; Voigt, S. (2011). "A selachian freshwater fauna from the Triassic of Kyrgyzstan and its implication for Mesozoic shark nurseries". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 31 (5): 937–953. 

Ivakhnenko, M. F. 1978. Tailed amphibians from the Triassic and Jurassic of Middle Asia. Paleontological Journal 1978(3):84-89. 

Sharov, A. G. 1970. An unusual reptile from the Lower Triassic of Fergana. Paleontological Journal 1970(1):112-116. 

Sharov, A. G. 1971. Novye letayushche reptilii is Mesosoya Kazachstana i Kirgizii [New Mesozoic flying reptiles from Kazakhstan and Kirgizia]. Trudy Paleontologicheskiya Instituta Akademiy Nauk SSSR 130:104-113. 

SHCHERBAKOV, Dmitry (2008). "Madygen, Triassic Lagerstätte number one, before and after Sharov". Alavesia. 2 (5): 125–131. 

Tatarinov, L. P. 2005. A new cynodont (Reptilia, Theriodontia) from the Madygen Formation (Triassic) of Fergana, Kyrgyzstan. Paleontological Journal 39:192-198. 

Unwin, D. M., V. R. Alifanov, and M. J. Benton. 2000. Enigmatic small reptiles from the Middle-Late Triassic of Kirgizstan. In M. J. Benton, M. A. Shishkin, D. M. Unwin, E. N. Kurochkin (eds.), The Age of Dinosaurs in Russia and Mongolia. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 177-186

[shift-shaping]

16, 25, and 87!

16. PA PA YA!! by BABYMETAL

25. The Devil Went Down to Georgia by The Charlie Daniels Band

87. Ladinian by Thomas Rantanen

[psie-smutki]

Mastodonsaurus pencil doodle

[magicalnomad-blog]

My experience with traveling in the South Tyrol

South Tyrol - Landscape scenery Parco Naturale Sciliar Catinaccio (author: Martin Kirschner) If you plan to take a vacation somewhere in the spring, South Tyrol is the right choice. If you visit South Tyrol, so you will be forever remember Mountains, dolomites, beautiful nature, good wine, home-made cheese and Tyrolean bacon. It's almost two years since I visited South Tyrol. Now I have decided to write an article about this country. South Tyrol is a province in northern Italy. It is a part of Tyrol, which was severed from Austria by a peace treaty from Saint-Germain in September 1919 and annexed to Italy. That is why Austrian and Italian culture are mixed. At the high altitudes are living a typical Tyrols with their bright hair and blue eyes. In these places are people speaking mainly German. On the contrary, in the larger cities in the lowlands are living the Italian part of the population which are speaking italian. That's why a person who comes for example out of Bolzano, into some alpine village, then they feels like in another world. In the area are people speaking a total of three oficial languages: 70 % population speaks german, 25 % italian and 5 % latin (retroromain language). Young Tyroleans learn English in schools, so if you control this language, so you can talk to them. For elderly people, but do not expect know English. If you want to go of the South Tyrol, you must first come to Bolzano, which is also its largest city. Bolzano is taken the gateway to South Tyrol. Afterwards, you have two options. Either west across the spa town of Merano towards to the Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio. Or east through the towns of Brixen, Bruneck and then by mountain bus to the south to the mountains and visit one of the four national parks where are the Dolomites and crystal clear lakes lie. As soon as you arrive in Bolzano, consider that this city has only one hostel. It's called Youth Hostel Bolzano, where you will be staying for minimal 22 euros. Another option at a relatively low price is to accomodate at the Catholic school for 33 euros. If they do not even accept you there, because of the full capacity, you have nothing option, then accomodate in the expensive hotel. So before arriving in this city, book your accommodation if you want to the save money.

How did my trip to South Tyrol and what I experienced there:

My way started go on foot from Bolzano on the east towards three national parks. They were parks: Parco Naturale Sciliar Cattinaccio, Parco Naturale Puez Odle and Parco Naturale di Fanes-Sennes-Braies. From Bolzano I  earled in the morning and went east to Tiers, where the above-mentioned national parks began. Was the beautiful spring weather. At my slow pace I went up three days, then one day decline. After four days, I reached to the city Tiers. Then I set out for the first Parco Naturale Sciliar Catinaccio National Park, which I went over in the five days. At the end of this park I reached the Tierské Alps, where I accomoded in a chalet called Schutzhaus Tierser Alpl.

View from the Tiers Alps (author: Martin Kirschner) I do not know how to properly describe Park Parco Naturale Sciliar Catinaccio, but I will try it. The park is located geographically on an extended area at an altitude of about 1,000 to 1,500 meters above sea level. On this area are Dolomites and beautiful blooming meadows. You will not find such a landscape anywhere in the world. It's really wonderful.

Beautiful landscape on the elevated area of the Parco Naturale Sciliar Catinaccio National Park (author: Martin Kirschner) The next two days it took me to arrive in Ortisei, a town in South Tyrol, located in the valley of Val Gardena in the Dolomites. The peculiarity of this city is that of a total  84.19 percent inhabitants (4,663) speaks Latin, which is a Romance language spoken mainly in the provinces of Bolzano, Trento and Belluno. The estimated number of speakers in this language from all world is around 30,000. From the town of Ortisei, I headed for Parco Naturale Puez Odle, which I passed in seven days. Even in this park are the Dolomites. In addition, here you can also meet chamois or marmot.

Landscape in the Parco Naturale Puez National Park Where you can come across muddy or camphos (author: Martin Kirschner) The next three days it took me to get to San Martino In Badia, a renowned ski resort with a number of cable cars nearby. Here you can also lisening the Ladinian language, and even here you will find the center of the ladinian culture "Micurà de Rü" and the medieval castle complex. "Ćiastel de Tor" is also the Museum Ladin Culture. Then I went over a bigger hill and to the one day I has gone to the st.Vigil. St.Vigil is a picturesque village lying at an altitude of 1201 meters at the foot of powerful dolomite giants right on the borders of one of the most beautiful Alpine nature parks of Fanes-Sennes-Braies. Here you will find a number of ski slopes and an annual festival of snow sculptures is held here in January. I stayed in this town for two days and then headed to the park Fanes-Sennes-Braies.

View of the city St.Vigil (author: Martin Kirschner) Fanes-Sennes-Braies Park is registred a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This park covers an area of almost 25,453 hectares. In the east, its territory is bounded by the Höhlensteintal valley; to east st. Vigil in Enneberg, south to St. Kassianu, where he further copied the southern Tyrolean border. It is worthwhile to visit the ladin villages, the so-called Viles, known among others by their original wooden structures. These settlements of several estates were completely self-sufficient in the past. Their inhabitants shared an economic building, a furnace and other facilities together. Also, do not miss a visit to Lake Pragser Wildsee which I also visited. This lake is set in a mountain valley and has crystal clear water with a cyan color. At the lake, there is one hotel called Lago di Braies and a pedestrian crossing for unpretentious tourists around the lake.

Landscape of Pragser Wildsee with crystal clear water. (author: Martin Kirschner) From there I went down from the mountains to the valley of the city Welsberg-Taisten, where I was accomodate at the family hotel Gasser. This hotel surprised me with their hospitality. Hotel was governed by an older lady who served breakfast in traditional Tyrolean costume. For breakfast was all kinds of food were served and cocoa served on request. From Welsberg-Taisten, on foot, I walked on a cycling way to Bruneck where I ended my hiking trip and from there I went by train to Bolzano. In South Tyrol I overall walked about 250 km and it took me about 30 days. While browsing the South Tyrolean countryside, you have the option of dining or try local wine virtually anywhere. Because this country is interwoven with a network of alpine huts, hotels and family restaurants, where is about tourists to take care of it. In addition, this country is among the culinary powers because in 2014 its 19 regional restaurants received 22 michelin stars, which means, that in the culinary industry, this region does not have competition in the whole of Italy. Along the trails of national parks there is a large number of wells to pick up fresh spring water, so you can buy one water just to have a plastic bottle, and you can draw more water to this from the wells, saving you money (that's what I did). One of the interest things I have experienced on my travels with Tyrol was the fact, that almost everywhere in high altitude hotels and cottages is paid after the end of your accommodation. I have never met with that before. This experience gave me a profound impression, that I guess that the Tyroleans are a trusting and honest nation, and apparently it does not happen, that someone has escaped without paying. This trust can be seen in their everyday life, which I had the chance to spend with them for some time.  

People leave the wheels loosely leaning against the wall without fearing that someone is stealing them. (author: Martin Kirschner) I have not seen so helpful people, just like in South Tyrol. I have a lot of experience when I was looking at the map and wondering which way to go on. I have never had to ask for advice, because always someone automaticaly came to me and asked me if I needed to advise or ride a car somewhere. Overall rating of South Tyrol, its culture and people is very positive on my side and I would definitely like to come to this country again. Maybe I again explore South Tyrol to bicycle, because this country is interwoven with a number of cycling routes. Or I'll be back and visit in the west the spa town of Merano and then visiting the Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio, which I have not had the chance to go through.   * The Dolomites (Italian Dolomites, German Dolomites) are one of the mountain massifs of the Italian Alps. It is located in the northern part of Italy, east of the Bolzano basin. The mountain range does not have a single ridge, it consists of many smaller, often very diverse mountain groups. The area is characterized by typical dolomitic elements such as the table top of some massifs, sloping walls, tower peaks, jagged rock crests and almost bizarre shapes of some shields. In the Dolomites there are perhaps all kinds of mountain landscapes - from mountain meadows to rock massifs with glaciers. Source: Wikipedia Click to Post

[aweflags-blog]

Flag of Ladinia Luggage Tag - £8.25 Made by Acrylic Idea Factory The unofficial regional flag of Ladinia, Italy. http://www.zazzle.co.uk/flag_of_ladinia_luggage_tag-256373153924280564?CMPN=shareicon&lang=en&social=true&rf=238910288785191787

[nathan-e-rogers]

Marasuchus lilloensis

Argentina, Ladinian Age of the Middle Triassic (Chañares Formation)

A small dinosauromorph archosaur (only about 40 cm long), Marasuchus lived in the shadows of larger animals and frequent volcanic activity. Relatives of Marasuchus, the dinosaurs themselves, would go on to dominate terrestrial ecosystems for millions of years.

Read more about Marasuchus, dinosauromorphs, and the Chañares Formation at Earth Archives.

[wtf-triassic]

Nothosaurus

By Tas Dixon

Etymology: False Reptile 

First Described By: Münster, 1834 

Classification: Biota, Archaea, Proteoarchaeota, Asgardarchaeota, Eukaryota, Neokaryota, Scotokaryota, Opimoda, Podiata, Amorphea, Obazoa, Opisthokonta, Holozoa, Filozoa, Choanozoa, Animalia, Eumetazoa, Parahoxozoa, Bilateria, Nephrozoa, Deuterostomia, Chordata, Olfactores, Vertebrata, Craniata, Gnathostomata, Eugnathostomata, Osteichthyes, Sarcopterygii, Rhipidistia, Tetrapodomorpha, Eotetrapodiformes, Elpistostegalia, Stegocephalia, Tetrapoda, Reptiliomorpha, Amniota, Sauropsida, Eureptilia, Romeriida, Diapsida, Neodiapsida, Sauria, Archosauromorpha?, Archelosauria, Pantestudines, Sauropterygia, Eosauropterygia, Nothosauria, Nothosauridae, Nothosaurinae 

Referred Species: N. mirabilis, N. cristatus, N. cymatosauroides, N. edingerae, N. giganteus, N. haasi, N. jagisteus, N. marchicus, N. mirabilis, N. tchernovi, N. yangjuanensis, N. zhangi 

Time and Place: From 242 million years ago until 208 million years ago, from the Ladinian of the Middle Triassic through the earliest Rhaetian of the Late Triassic

Nothosaurus is known from all over Eurasia and North Africa, to the point that it’s pointless to list all the locations. Just assume that if it’s the Mid or Late Triassic of the Tethys Sea, Nothosaurus is there.

Physical Description: Nothosaurus is an iconic Triassic marine reptile - to the point that we had to include it, or else we would have violated some sort of rule of paleontology. Nothosaurus was about 4 meters long on average, but could reach up to 7 meters in length. It had a long, streamlined body, with a long neck and a long tail. Its head was narrow and filled with long and pointed teeth which interlocked together when the mouth closed, forming a tight trap. Its forelimbs were longer than its hind limbs, and all of its hands and feet had webbing between the long toes. In a lot of ways, it looked extremely similar to later marine reptiles to which it was closely related, like the Plesiosaurs and Pliosaurs, just with hands instead of proper flippers - however, current evidence indicates that the Plesiosaurs and Pliosaurs evolved from an ancestor of both groups, and Nothosaurus is just a Triassic offshoot. It had capabilities for diving in the water, though it also was still adapted for life on the shore. 

Diet: Nothosaurus primarily ate fish and other marine animals, including other marine reptiles. 

Behavior: Nothosaurus was semi-aquatic, spending a lot of its time both in the ocean and on land. On the beaches and shores it would rest and sleep, and then turn to the ocean for most of its everyday life. Diving for food would have been most of its daily activities, going after juvenile reptiles and large fish in the water and diving in order to reach it. It probably would have paddled with its webbed feet, and undulated its body to some extent to help propel forward. It may have been at least somewhat social, living in groups and colonizing the shores together before going for group dives for food. Interestingly enough, Nothosaurus was basically like a reptilian seal, coming up to shore to rest and sit with its relatives. Whether or not they would have given birth to live young is uncertain; while their close relatives, the Plesiosaurs, did; they retained enough land adaptations to allow them to lay eggs on the shore. More research as to their physiology is needed in order to determine that aspect of their life history. Trackways have been attributed to Nothosaurus, which may show that they rowed their paddles on the sea bed to shake up small animals trapped underneath; this would have allowed Nothosaurus to capture the invertebrates between its long teeth and hold onto them so they could not escape. 

Ecosystem: Nothosaurus lived throughout the early Tethys sea, and was a common feature in many communities throughout this growing body of water during the Middle and Late Triassic. It would have stuck to the coasts for the most part, but still ventured out into deep and open water. As such, it’s rather difficult to list all the different animals it lived alongside - it’s found in Bulgaria, China, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Jordan, the Netherlands, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and Switzerland. So just, assume that a marine creature from the Tethys during this time lived with Nothosaurus rather than not. 

Other: Nothosaurus has been treated as, unfortunately, a wastebasket taxon - it was discovered early enough in the history of paleontology as a science that many similar animals were just dumped into this name without any specific studies done. So, determining the factual relationships from this mess is still being worked out; in fact, it seems that this genus is paraphyletic, with many close relatives of Nothosaurus being more closely related to some species than to others. So that’s fun! 

Species Differences: The varying species of Nothosaurus tend to differ based on where and when they lived, rather than any particularly notable differences. There are some differences in size and limb proportions as well, but in general the differing species of Nothosaurus would have had very similar ecological roles. 

~ By Meig Dickson

Sources Under the Cut

Albers, P. C. H., and O. Rieppel. 2003. A new species of the sauropterygian genus Nothosaurus from the Lower Muschelkalk of Winterswijk, The Netherlands. Journal of Paleontology 77(4):738-744. 

Albers, P. C. H. 2005. A new specimen of Nothosaurus marchicus with features that relate the taxon to Nothosaurus winterswijkensis. Vertebrate Palaeontology 3 (1): 1- 7. 

Brotzen, F. 1956. Stratigraphical studies on the Triassic vertebrate fossils from Wadi Raman, Israel. Arkiv foer Mineralogi och Geologi 2(9):191-217. 

Chrzastek, A. 2008. Vertebrate remains from the Lower Muschelkalk of Raciborowice Górne (North-Sudetic Basin, SW Poland). Geological Quarterly 52:225-238. 

Diedrich, C. 2009. The vertebrates of the Anisian/Ladinian boundary (Middle Triassic) from Bissendorf (NW Germany) and their contribution to the anatomy, palaeoecology, and palaeobiogeography of the Germanic Basin reptiles. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 273 (1): 1 - 16. 

 d'Orbigny, A. 1849. Cours Élémentaire de Paléontologie et de Géologie Stratigraphiques [Elementary Course in Paleontology and Stratigraphic Geology] 1:1-299. 

Haas, G 1980. Ein Nothosaurier-Schädel aus dem Muschelkalk des Wadi Ramon (Negev, Israel). Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien 83:119-125. 

Haines, Tim, and Paul Chambers. The Complete Guide to Prehistoric Life. Pg. 64. Canada: Firefly Books Ltd., 2006 

Hinz, J. K., A. T. Matzke, and H.-U. Pfretzschner. 2019. A new nothosaur (Sauropterygia) from the Ladinian of Vellberg-Eschenau, southern Germany. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 

Jiang, W.; Maisch, M. W.; Hao, W.; Sun, Y.; Sun, Z. 2006. Nothosaurus yangjuanensis n. sp. (Reptilia, Sauropterygia, Nothosauridae) from the middle Anisian (Middle Triassic) of Guizhou, southwestern China. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Monatshefte. 5: 257–276. 

Jiang, D.-Y., L. Schmitz, R. Motani, W.-C. Hao, and Y.-L. Sun. 2007. The mixosaurid ichthyosaur Phalarodon cf. P. fraasi from the Middle Triassic of Guizhou Province, China. Journal of Paleontology 81(3):602-605. 

Klein, N. and P. C. H. Albers. 2009. A new species of the sauropsid reptile Nothosaurus from the Lower Muschelkalk of the western Germanic Basin, Winterswijk, The Netherlands. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 54(4):589-598. 

Lin, W.-B.; Jiang, D.-Y.; Rieppel, O.; Motani, R.; Ji, C.; Tintori, A.; Sun, Z.-Y.; Zhou, Min 2017. A new specimen of Lariosaurus xingyiensis (Reptilia, Sauropterygia) from the Ladinian (Middle Triassic) Zhuganpo Member, Falang Formation, Guizhou, China. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 37 (2): e1278703.  

Liu, J. 2014. A gigantic nothosaur (Reptilia: Sauropterygia) from the Middle Triassic of SW China and its implications for the Triassic biotic recovery. Scientific Reports 4: 7142. 

Lu, H., D.-Y. Jiang, R. Motani, P.-G. Ni, Z.-Y. Sun, A. Tintori, S.-Z. Xiao, M. Zhou, C. Ji and W.-F. Fu. 2018. Middle Triassic Xingyi Fauna: Showing turnover of marine reptiles from coastal to oceanic environments. Palaeoworld 27(1):107-116. 

Münster, G. G. 1834. Preliminary news about some new reptiles in the shell limestone of Baiern. New Yearbook for Mineralogy, Geognosy, Geology and Petriology 1834 : 521-527. 

Palmer, D. ed. 1999. The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 72. 

Rieppel, O., and J.-M. Mazin. 1997. Speciation along rifting continental margins: a new nothosaur from the Negev (Israel). Comptes rendus de l'Académie des Sciences Série IIA, Sciences de la Terre et des planètes 326:991-997. 

Rieppel, O. 2001. A new species of Nothosaurus (Reptilia: Sauropterygia) from the Upper Muschelkalk (Lower Ladinian) of southwestern Germany. Palaeontographica Abteilung A 263:137-161. 

Sepkoski, J. J. 2002. A compendium of fossil marine animal genera. Bulletins of American Paleontology 363:1-560. 

[wtf-triassic]

Mastodonsaurus

By Tas Dixon

Etymology: Nipple-toothed reptile

First Described By: Jaeger, 1828

Classification: Biota, Archaea, Proteoarchaeota, Asgardarchaeota, Eukaryota, Neokaryota, Scotokaryota Opimoda, Podiata, Amorphea, Obazoa, Opisthokonta, Holozoa, Filozoa, Choanozoa, Animalia, Eumetazoa, Parahoxozoa, Bilateria, Nephrozoa, Deuterostomia, Chordata, Olfactores, Vertebrata, Craniata, Gnathostomata, Eugnathostomata, Osteichthyes, Sarcopterygii, Rhipidistia, Tetrapodomorpha, Eotetrapodiformes, Elpistostegalia, Stegocephalia, Tetrapoda, Temnospondyli, Limnarchia, Stereospondylomorpha, Stereospondyli, Capitosauria, Mastodonsauridae

Referred Species: M. jaegeri, M. cappalensis, M. giganteus, M. torvus

Status: Extinct 

Time and Place: 247 to 237 million years ago, from the Anisian to the Ladinian of the Middle Triassic

Mastodonsaurus is known mostly from Germany and Russia.

Physical Description: Mastodonsaurus was a very large temnospondyl, growing up to 6 meters (20 feet) long. It’s one of the largest “amphibians” (if you accept the term to mean non-amniote tetrapods) known from actually decent remains. This thing’s downright badass. Its head was large, wide and flattened, with the eyes positioned at the top about ⅔ of the way back. The head was roughly-textured, being covered in rugosities that suggest a tight covering of skin. The upper and lower jaws were filled with spikelike teeth, of which there were two rows in the upper jaw. Each tooth has a complex labyrinthine structure in cross section, leading to the colloquialism “labyrinthodont” for big temnospondyls like this. Two teeth in the front of the lower jaw had developed into large tusks, which were so large that there are holes on the top of the jaw for the tusks to go through when the mouth was closed. I repeat: IT HAD HOLES IN ITS SKULL BECAUSE ITS TEETH WERE SO BIG. That’s downright gnarly. The upper jaw also had enlarged fanglike teeth on the palate, but they weren’t that huge. Postcranially Mastodonsaurus was similar to other temnospondyls, with short, sprawling limbs and a powerful tail.

Diet: Mastodonsaurus’s diet likely consisted of any living or until-recently-living animal that happened to be in the water (including if it was pulled in).  

Behavior: Mastodonsaurus likely lived similarly to modern crocodiles, lurking in waterways waiting for prey. In the water it may have done short chases after prey such as fish and other temnospondyls, but it probably ambushed tetrapod prey. Its limbs were quite small relative to the rest of its body, indicating that it likely spent most of, or even almost all of, its time in the water. It may have been able to attack animals on the banks of waterways, but that’s probably the most it did on a regular basis: grabbing prey on the shore of the water and dragging it back in to be eaten.

Ecosystem: Mastodonsaurus lived in environments with lots of freshwater. Some Mastodonsaurus-preserving environments also bear marine fossils, suggesting it may have also lived in coastal deltas or estuaries. M. jaegeri, M. cappalensis and M. giganteus lived in what is now west-central Europe. This area was evidently very wet, as evidenced by the variety of aquatic animals discovered there. These include fellow temnospondyl Gerrothorax, the nothosaurs Nothosaurus and Simosaurus, the early turtle Pappochelys, Tanystropheus, sharks, mollusks, and our old friends Ceratodus and Saurichthys. Some terrestrial animals also lived in this area, like cynodonts and the pseudosuchians Batrachotomus and Ctenosauriscus. Meanwhile, M. torvus lived in what is now Russia, alongside fellow temnospondyls Plagioscutum and Plagiorotus, the prolacertid Malutinisuchus, the rauisuchid Energosuchus, the erythrosuchid Chalishevia, and Elephantosaurus, a dicynodont with a horrible name.

Other: I try not to be an awesomebro, but this thing was pretty cool.

~ By Henry Thomas

Sources under the cut

Moser, M., Schoch, R. 2007. Revision of the type material and nomenclature of Mastodonsaurus giganteus (Jaeger) (Temnospondyli) from the Middle Triassic of Germany. Palaeontology 50(5): 1245-1266.

Owen, R. 1842. On the Teeth of Species of the Genus Labyrinthodon (Mastodonsaurus of Jaeger), common to the German Keuper formation and the Lower Sandstone of Warwick and Leamington. Transactions of the Geological Society of London 2(5). 503-513.

Schoch, R.R. 1999. Comparative osteology of Mastodonsaurus giganteus (JAEGER, 1828) from the Middle Triassic (Lettenkeuper: Longobardian) of Germany (Baden-Wurttemberg, Bayern, Thuringen). Stuttgarter Beitrage zur Naturkunde B 278: 1-175.

[wtf-triassic]

Gerrothorax pulcherrimus

By @stolpergeist​

Etymology: Wicker chest

First Described By: Nilsson, 1934

Classification: Biota, Archaea, Proteoarchaeota, Asgardarchaeota, Eukaryota, Neokaryota, Scotokaryota Opimoda, Podiata, Amorphea, Obazoa, Opisthokonta, Holozoa, Filozoa, Choanozoa, Animalia, Eumetazoa, Parahoxozoa, Bilateria, Nephrozoa, Deuterostomia, Chordata, Olfactores, Vertebrata, Craniata, Gnathostomata, Eugnathostomata, Osteichthyes, Sarcopterygii, Rhipidistia, Tetrapodomorpha, Eotetrapodiformes, Elpistostegalia, Stegocephalia, Tetrapoda, Temnospondyli, Limnarchia, Stereospondylomorpha, Stereospondyli, Trematosauria, Plagiosauroidea, Plagiosauridae

Status: Extinct 

Time and Place: 242 to 201 million years ago, from the Ladinian of the Middle Triassic to the Rhaetian of the Late Triassic

Gerrothorax is known from Germany, Greenland, and Sweden.

Physical Description: Gerrothorax is a very flat critter. At about a meter long, its body was wider than it was tall. So was its head. The eyes were large and positioned on the top of the head, as was a smaller parietal eye that wouldn’t have been as visible. Most animals open their mouths by angling the lower jaw downward. Gerrothorax, however, kept its lower jaw steady on the ground, and moved its entire upper skull upwards. It could have moved its skull up approximately 50 degrees from the horizontal. An action similar to the opening of a toilet seat lid. As this happened, the lower jaw would have been pushed outwards The teeth were small and peglike, running around the rim of the outside of the jaws. It retained its larval gills into adulthood, but they wouldn’t have been large and frilly like those of the living axolotl

Diet: Gerrothorax likely ate fish and other smaller aquatic organisms. It probably sat and waited for food to come by.

Behavior: All the weird features I mentioned above lead to the relatively obvious conclusion that Gerrothorax lived at the bottom of shallow freshwater bodies as an ambush predator. Its flat frame would keep it hidden. It may have been cryptically colored, or possibly buried itself beneath sand or mud. When prey came by, it would have raised its head with the jaws closed and rapidly opened the mouth. This would create a vacuum effect, which would suck the prey into the mouth to be eaten. A similar feeding strategy is used by certain fish and salamanders around today. It was different from those, however, in that all the skull bones were tightly fused, so they couldn’t have formed a “trap” around the prey.

By @stolpergeist​

Ecosystem: Gerrothorax lived in shallow freshwater systems in Triassic Europe. It would have shared the waters with sharks, ray-finned and lobe-finned fish, phytosaurs, aquatic reptiles such as Nothosaurus, and other temnospondyls such as Cyclotosaurus and Metoposaurus. Around these rivers and lakes lived dinosaurs like Efraasia, Procompsognathus and Halticosaurus, pterosaurs like Arcticodactylus, and pseudosuchians such as Batrachotomus, Aetosaurus, and Saltoposuchus.

Other: Gerrothorax is known from a span of time lasting over 35 million years. In this time it barely changed morphologically - the latest Gerrothorax were basically identical to the earliest. This was probably because the niche it occupied offered little room for morphological change. Or maybe it simply wasn’t necessary. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

~ By Henry Thomas

Sources under the Cut

Jenkins, F.A., Shubin, N.H., Gatesy, S.M., Warren, A. 2008. Gerrothorax pulcherrimus from the Upper Triassic Fleming Fjord Formation of East Greenland and a reassessment of head lifting in temnospondyl feeding. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28 (4): 935-950.

Nilsson, T. 1946. A new find of Gerrothorax rhaeticus Nillson, a plagiosaurid from the Rhaetic of Scania. Lunds Universitates Arsskrift 42 (10).

Schoch, R.R., Witzmann, F. 2011. Cranial morphology of the plagiosaurid Gerrothorax pulcherrimus as an extreme example of evolutionary statis. Lethaia.

Witzmann, F., Schoch, R.R. 2013. Reconstruction of cranial and hyobranchial muscles in the Triassic temnospondyl Gerrothorax provides evidence for akinetic suction feeding. Journal of Morphology 274 (5): 525-542.

[wtf-triassic]

Foreyia maxkuhni

Etymology: Forey’s Fish

First Described By: Cavin et al., 2017

Classification: Biota, Archaea, Proteoarchaeota, Asgardarchaeota, Eukaryota, Neokaryota, Scotokaryota, Opimoda, Podiata, Amorphea, Obazoa, Opisthokonta, Holozoa, Filozoa, Choanozoa, Animalia, Eumetazoa, Parahoxozoa, Bilateria, Nephrozoa, Deuterostomia, Chordata, Olfactores, Vertebrata, Craniata, Gnathostomata, Eugnathostomata, Osteichthyes, Sarcopterygii, Actinistia, Coelacanthiformes, Latimerioidei, Latimeriidae, 

Time and Place: Foreyia lived about 240.91 million years ago, in the Ladinian of the Middle Triassic

Foreyia is known from the Prosanto Formation of Switzerland

Physical Description: Foreyia was a Coelacanth, a sort of Lobe-Finned Fish once thought to be a unique feature of prehistoric ecologies, and now known to survive in two different species today. This is wild, of course, but Coelacanths were weird in many different ways throughout their prehistoric tenure. Foreyia looked only a little similar to its cousins - it had a huge head compared to other Coelacanths, as well as a beak - something that you really only see in ray-finned fish and tetrapods - an underbite, and a horn on its head. That said, its body looks similar enough to other coelacanths, with dorsal fins and a wide tail fin, and large forelimb fins. However, the large size of its head makes it look like a Coelacanth that had been squished extensively, with the body looking quite short and squished compared to its close relative Ticinepomis. We aren’t sure as to what colors it may have been, but since it lived in a tropical region and may have had a similar niche as a Parrotfish, it is reasonable to suppose it may have been colorful. It was also very small, only around 20 centimeters long. 

Diet: Given the beak, it’s likely that Foreyia ate hard food, potentially even similarly to living parrotfish - by chipping off algae covered rocks and reef builders, or potentially eating small shelled animals in the tidal pools. 

Behavior: Foreyia’s head was huge, and so that likely impacted its swimming style, though it is unclear how. Modern Coelacanths moving very slowly through the water, moving their fins to help propel through. Since Foreyia reduced the size of its fins to an extent, it’s possible that the tail (which was very large compared to the rest of the body) was more vital in swimming, and the head may have been used to help steer (though this is just a hypothesis). The bony shield may have also been helpful in protecting Foreyia from danger, which makes sense ans many predators were present in its environment. This is at least somewhat supported by its strong clavicle muscles. It probably would have spent a significant amount of time grazing, either on small crunchy invertebrates or algae. Today, Coelacanths don’t seem to shoal much; however, that may not have been the case in the past, so we can’t infer a loner lifestyle for Foreyia. 

Ecosystem: Foreyia lived in a coastal shelf environment, specifically in a tidal basin that would often become anoxic as the tide went out during the day, meaning that Foreyia had to move around a lot to avoid suffocation. This environment was probably at least somewhat reef or tidal pool like, with a variety of fish swimming around in the ecosystem. There were many ray-finned fish here, including Peltopleurus, Habrichthys, Archaeosemionotus, Saurichthys, Ctenognathichthys, Besania, Prosanticthys, Eoeugnathus, and Ducanicthys. There was also another Coelacanth, Ticinepornis. As for tetrapods, there was the Pachypleurosaur Neusticosaurus, the Helveticosaurid Eusaurosphargis, and the Tanystropheid Macrocnemus. These reptiles would have been major predators of Foreyia. 

Other: Foreyia is so weird in its shape that the original authors proposed it was Heterochronic - ie, different aspects of baby Coelacanth anatomy were retained in order to provide useful adaptations for Foreyia. However, some later researchers have cast doubts on this idea, given that baby Coelacanths don’t… actually seem to resemble Foreyia. Clearly, the jury is still out! 

~ By Meig Dickson

Sources Under the Cut

Arratia, G., and A. Herzog. 2007. A New Halecomorph Fish from the Middle Triassic of Switzerland and its Systematic Implications. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 27(4):838-849. 

Bürgin, T., U. Eichenberger, H. Furrer and K. Tschanz. 1991. Die Prosanto Formation - eine fischreiche Fossil-Lagerstätte in der Mitteltrias der Silvretta-Decke (Kanton Graubünden, Schweiz). Eclogae Geologicae Helvetiae 84:921-990. 

Bürgin, T., and A. Herzog. 2002. Die Gattung Ctenognathichthys (Actinopterygii, Perleidformes) aus der Prosanto-Formation (Ladin, Mitteltrias) Graubündens (Schweiz), mit der Beschreibung einer neuen Art, C. hattichi sp. nov. Eclogae Geologicae Helvetiae 95:461-469. 

Carroll, R. L., and P. Gaskill. 1985. The nothosaur Pachypleurosaurus and the origin of plesiosaurs. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 309:343-393. 

Cavin, L., H. Furrer, and C. Obrist. 2013. New coelacanth material from the Middle Triassic of eastern Switzerland, and comments on the taxic diversity of actinistans. Swiss Journal of Geosciences 106:161-177. 

Cavin, L., B. Mennecart, C. Obrist, L. Costeur, and H. Furrer. 2017. Heterochronic evolution explains novel body shape in a Triassic coelacanth from Switzerland. Scientific Reports 7(13695):1-7. 

Ferrante, C., L. Cavin, H. Furrer, R. Martini. 2018. Coelacanths from the Middle Triassic of Switzerland show unusual morphology. Swiss Geoscience Meeting. 

Fraser, N., and H. Furrer. 2013. A new species of Macrocnemus from the Middle Triassic of the eastern Swiss Alps. Swiss Journal of Geoscience 106:199-206. 

Herzog, A. 2001. Peltoperleidus obristi sp. nov., ein neuer, kleiner Strahlenflosser (Actinopterygii, Perleidiformes) aus der Prosanto-Formation (Mitteltrias) von Graubünden (Schweiz). Eclogae Geologicae Helvetiae 94:495-507. 

Herzog, A. 2003. Eine Neubeschreibung der Gattung Eoeugnathus Brough, 1939 (Actinopterygii; Halecomorphi) aus der alpinen Mitteltrais Graubündes (Schweiz). Palaeontologische Zeitschrift 77(1):223-240. 

Herzog, A., and T. Bürgin. 2005. A new species of the genus Besania Brough 1939 from the Middle Triassic of Canton Grisons (Switzerland) with a discussion of the phylogenetic status of the taxon. Eclogae Geologicae Helvetiae 98:113-122. 

McMenamin, M.A. S. 2018. Coelacanth Vestiges. Deep Time Analysis, Springer Publishing. 

Scheyer, T. M., J. M. Neenan, T. Bodogan, H. Furrer, C. Obrist and M. Plamodon. 2017. A new, exceptionally preserved juvenile specimen of Eusaurosphargis dalsassoi (Diapsida) and implications for Mesozoic marine diapsid phylogeny. Scientific Reports 7:4406. 

[wtf-triassic]

Lotosaurus adentus

(Image: Lotosaurus, a rotund, beaked reptile with a tall, arched back. It is attractively coloured in shades of grey, tan, and purple, runs on clean eco-friendly plants, and has optional internal heating. Image by Tas Dixon.)

Etymology: Toothless Lotus Lizard (after Hunan Province, the “Lotus State”)

First Described By: Fa-kui Zhang in 1975

Classification: Biota, Archaea, Proteoarchaeota, Asgardarchaeota, Eukaryota, Neokaryota, Scotokaryota, Opimoda, Podiata, Amorphea, Obazoa, Opisthokonta, Holozoa, Filozoa, Choanozoa, Animalia, Eumetazoa, Parahoxozoa, Bilateria, Nephrozoa, Deuterostomia, Chordata, Olfactores, Vertebrata, Craniata, Gnathostomata, Eugnathostomata, Osteichthyes, Sarcopterygii, Rhipidistia, Tetrapodomorpha, Eotetrapodiformes, Elpistostegalia, Stegocephalia, Tetrapoda, Reptiliomorpha, Amniota, Sauropsida, Eureptilia, Romeriida, Diapsida, Neodiapsida, Sauria, Archosauromorpha, Crocopoda, Archosauriformes, Eucrocopoda, Crurotarsi, Archosauria, Pseudosuchia, Suchia, Paracrocodylomorpha, Poposauroidea

Time and Place: Lotosaurus lived about 238 million years ago, in the Ladinian of the Middle Triassic.

Lotosaurus remains were found in the Badong formation, in Hunan Province of central China.

Physical Description: Lotosaurus was a croc-line archosaur with especially high neural spines, and sort of resembled a plate-less stegosaur—a very naked stegosaur, indeed. It had far longer legs and a more erect stance than any of today’s crocodilians, meaning that it would have carried its body further off the ground. This is needed, as its arching ribs gave it a fairly large barrel-shaped gut. From nose to tail tip, the animal reached about 1.5-2.5m in length.

Traditionally Lotosaurus has been restored with a sail, in the manner of Dimetrodon or Spinosaurus. Is this the case? I’m not sure that it was. The neural spines, though tall, are certainly not ridiculously so—more within the range of Acrocanthosaurus, a dinosaur that is more commonly restored with a hump. This may indeed have been the case with Lotosaurus, though this idea has not been tested.

It’s unclear whether Lotosaurus was warm-blooded, cold-blooded, or somewhere in-between, but some evidence has suggested that the ancestors of croc-line archosaurs might have been warm-blooded or “lukewarm-blooded”. If this is the case, and Lotosaurus had a fast metabolism, it might be beneficial for it to store a lot of fat in the form of a hump. On the other hand, if it were warm-blooded and produced its own body heat, it might have the issue of needing to get rid of excess body heat so as to not overheat, and so a sail may have been more useful. And if it were cold-blooded, the increased surface area might have helped it absorb more sun on a cold day.

Lotosaurus is of special note due to its toothless, beaked mouth, a far cry from the toothy grins of today’s crocodiles. This is actually not uncommon among fossil croc relatives, however; the armoured Stegonolepis and its aetosaur friends had toothless beaks to the front of their mouths, and the bipedal, fast-running shuvosaurids were entirely toothless. As a poposauroid, Lotosaurus was a relative of this latter group; however, it is unknown whether they inherited their beaks from a common ancestor or evolved them independently. 

Some of this difficulty stems from the fact that we don’t really have anything else that’s much like Lotosaurus. It’s kind of unique out there in the world of croc-line palaeontology. Other poposauroids had toothless beaks, but these were slender, long-necked bipeds; other poposauroids had tall neural spines, but these had larger heads with fiercely toothed jaws. Lotosaurus stands alone as an odd mishmash of body plans, a weirdo doing its own thing in a world populated by other weirdos.

Diet: Having a toothless beak, much like having a pair of scissors, a hedge-clipper, or a diesel chainsaw, is great if you want to cut down a lot of plants, and that’s likely what it did with them. Lacking teeth, it probably swallowed these plants whole.

Plants are hard to digest. That’s because they have a lot of cellulose in them, to give them structure, and no animal has evolved an enzyme to break cellulose down. The solution to this, found by herbivores again and again throughout Earth history, is to stew food in the gut for a long time. This allows the gut flora—AKA the little microscopic friends who live in your digestive tract—to do the digesting for them. Having more time for digestion means more time for nutrient extraction, and the best way to increase time in the gut is to have a bigger gut (This also means that they can eat more food now and worry about digesting it later). None of this is necessary for digesting meat. This is why, if you look at a cow or an elephant, they tend to have round, fat torsos, while cats tend to be much skinnier. Unless it’s my cat, who is as chubby as any self-respecting herbivore.

Back to Lotosaurus. Having no teeth, it lost out on the oral processing aspect of digestion that is taken to extremes by many mammals, but it made up for this with gut residency. Much like many herbivorous dinosaurs, it’s likely that Lotosaurus ate large amounts of plants without chewing, and relied on its guts to do the heavy lifting.

Behavior: Lotosaurus has been found in bonebeds of dozens of individuals, aged juvenile through adult. Not all remains were articulated, though many were; the bones also show only minimal signs of weathering and no tooth marks from predators or scavengers. Taken together, these facts suggest that the animals likely died together, spent some short time on the surface, and were then catastrophically buried together. The rocks also preserve fossil mudcracks, and the area is interpreted as a floodplain pond. 

What exactly this means for the ecology of the animal is open to some interpretation. It is possible that Lotosaurus lived in herds, and that this herd died together during a drought; however, it is equally possible that Lotosaurus lived a solitary life, and that these individuals were drawn together by a dwindling pond during the dry season, only to perish when the pond dried up. 

Very little has been written about the actual ecology of Lotosaurus. At a glance it appears to have been perfectly competent on land, though I see nothing in its anatomy to suggest it would not have been an adequate swimmer if need be. 

Ecosystem: The Triassic was, for the most part, characterised by being hot and dry due to the supercontinent Pangaea forming a vast interior desert. However, around this time, China was not part of Pangaea, but rather a bunch of large, Greenland-sized islands waiting to be schmammed onto Pangaea. It thus seems that Lotosaurus was an island taxon, albeit a very large island.

What was that island like? The rocks in which Lotosaurus fossils are found are interpreted as being deposited in a dried-out lake in a floodplain; whether they lived in the lake or simply relied upon it for drinking water is unknown. The bonebed from which all certain Lotosaurus fossils were retrieved also contains the isolated teeth of a temnospondyl amphibian and a carnivorous archosauriform, indicating that these animals were also present in their ecosystem. 

From the types of clay present in the Lotosaurus site, we can tell that the climate experienced medium-to-high chemical weathering with moderate rainfall; development of fossil soils (palaeosols) and presence of certain invertebrates indicate that a dry season-wet season pattern occurred. This is consistent with the interpretation of the bonebed as having been formed by animals who died from drought and later covered, ironically, by floodwaters. 

–By Hayley Orlowski

Sources Under the Cut

Hagen, C. J., Roberts, E. M., Sullivan, C., Liu, J., Wang, Y., Owusu Agyemang, P. C., & Xu, X. (2018). Taphonomy, Geological Age, and Paleobiogeography of Lotosaurus adentus (archosauria: Poposauroidea) from the Middle-Upper Triassic Badong Formation, Hunan, China. Palaios, 33(3), 106-124.

FA-KUI, ZHANG. (1975). A NEW THECODONT LOTOSAURUS, FROM MIDDLE TRIASSIC OF HUNAN.

Legendre, L. J., Guénard, G., Botha-Brink, J., & Cubo, J. (2016). Palaeohistological evidence for ancestral high metabolic rate in archosaurs. Systematic Biology, 65(6), 989-996.