Prolacerta
Extinct genus of reptile from the lower Triassic / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Prolacerta is a genus of archosauromorph from the lower Triassic of South Africa and Antarctica.[1] The only known species is Prolacerta broomi. Prolacerta was a small and slender reptile, with a rather long neck, low skull, and serrated teeth. It would have resembled a modern monitor lizard at a quick glance,[2] though this is an example of convergent evolution as opposed to close affinities.[3]
Prolacerta | |
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The skull of Prolacerta broomi | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Clade: | Archosauromorpha |
Clade: | Crocopoda |
Family: | †Prolacertidae |
Genus: | †Prolacerta Parrington, 1935 |
Species: | †P. broomi |
Binomial name | |
†Prolacerta broomi Parrington, 1935 | |
Synonyms | |
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When first discovered, Prolacerta was considered to be ancestral to modern lizards ("lacertilians").[2] However, a study by Gow (1975) instead found that it shared more similarities with the lineage that would lead to archosaurs such as crocodilians and dinosaurs (including birds).[3] Prolacerta is now understood to be one of the most well-known early members of this lineage, formally known as Archosauromorpha. Some paleontologists have previously used the term "Prolacertiformes" in reference to superficially lizard-like early archosauromorphs, though the usage of Prolacertiformes as a valid group has lost support in recent decades. Many modern paleontologists consider Prolacerta to be among the closest relatives of the Archosauriformes, an advanced group of archosauromorphs including true archosaurs.[4][1]