- Varanopseidae
Taxobox
name = Varanopseidae
image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Varanops brevirostris"
fossil_range = Late Carboniferous to early LatePermian
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
superclassis =Tetrapod a
classis =Synapsid a
ordo =Pelycosauria
unranked_familia =Eupelycosauria
familia = Varanopseidae
subdivision_ranks = Groups
subdivision = See "taxonomy"Varanopseids were a group of
synapsid pelycosaur s that resemblemonitor lizard s and may have had the same lifestyle, hence their name. No varanopseids developed a sail like "Dimetrodon ". Most varanopseids were small ranging from lizard-sized animals to the size of a dog. Varanopseids already showed some advanced characteristics of true pelycosaurs such as deep, narrow, elongated skulls. Their jaws were long, and the teeth were sharp. However, they were still primitive bymammal ian standards. Like many other pelycosaur families, they evolved from an "Archaeothyris "-like synapsid from the LateCarboniferous . They have long tails,lizard -like body, and thin legs. Varanopseids were mostly carnivorous, but as they were reduced in size, their diets changed from a carnivorous to an insectivorous lifestyle. Compared to the other animals inEarly Permian , Varanopseids were agile creatures. But the last of the varanopseids were outcompeted, they were replaced by the evolvingdiapsid s and by the early part ofLate Permian , they became extinct.Taxonomy and Phylogeny
*Class
Synapsida
*OrderPelycosauria
**Eupelycosauria
***Family Varanopseidae
****"Basicranodon "
****"Varanosaurus "
****"Archaeovenator"
****SubfamilyMycterosaurinae
*****"Mycterosaurus "
*****"Mesenosaurus "
****SubfamilyVaranodontinae
*****"Elliotsmithia "
*****"Aerosaurus "
*****"Varanodon "
*****"Varanops "External links
* [http://www.palaeos.com/Vertebrates/Units/Unit390/200.html#Varanopseidae Varanopseidae] - at Paleos
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