Metoposaurus

{{taxonomy/{{taxonomy/{{taxonomy/{{taxonomy/{{taxonomy/{{taxonomy/{{taxonomy/{{taxonomy/{{taxonomy/{{taxonomy/{{taxonomy/{{taxonomy/{{taxonomy/{{taxonomy/{{taxonomy/{{taxonomy/{{taxonomy/{{taxonomy/{{taxonomy/{{taxonomy/{{taxonomy/{{taxonomy/{{taxonomy/{{taxonomy/{{taxonomy/Template:Taxonomy/BITCH|machine code=parent}} |machine code=parent}}|machine code=parent}}|machine code=parent}}|machine code=parent}}|machine code=parent}}|machine code=parent}}|machine code=parent}}|machine code=parent}}|machine code=parent}}|machine code=parent}}|machine code=parent}}|machine code=parent}} |machine code=parent}}|machine code=parent}}|machine code=parent}}|machine code=parent}}|machine code=parent}}|machine code=parent}}|machine code=parent}}|machine code=parent}}|machine code=parent}}|machine code=parent}}|machine code=parent}}|machine code=parent}}

Metoposaurus Temporal range: Late Triassic
Skeleton of Metoposaurus diagnosticus krasiejowensi in the Krasiejów museum in Poland
Scientific classification
Unrecognized taxon (fix):	BITCH
Order:	†Temnospondyli
Suborder:	†Stereospondyli
Family:	†Metoposauridae
Genus:	†Metoposaurus Lydekker, 1890
Species
†M. diagnosticus (von Meyer, 1842) (type) †M. diagnosticus diagnosticus Fraas, 1889 †M. diagnosticus krasiejowensi Sulej, 2002 †M. maleriensis Chowdhury, 1965 Nomina dubia: †M. azerouali Dutuit, 1976 †M. fraasi Lucas, 1904 †M. jonesi Case, 1920 †M. santaecruci Koken, 1913
Synonyms
Genus-level: Trigonosternum Schmidt, 1931 Species-level: M. heimi Kuhn, 1932 M. stuttgartiensis Fraas, 1913 Trigonosternum latum Schmidt, 1931

Metoposaurus is an extinct genus of temnospondyl amphibian, known from the Late Triassic of Europe.^[1] This mostly aquatic animal possessed small, weak limbs, had sharp teeth and a large flat head^[2]. The main diet of this highly flattened creature was fish which it captured with its wide jaws lined with needle teeth. Metoposaurus was up to 3 m (10 feet) long, weighed 454 kg (1,000 pounds)^[3], and was one of the last large amphibians. Still, the much larger Koolasuchus survived far into the Cretaceous. A lot of Metoposaurus mass graves have been found, probably from creatures that grouped together in drying pools during drought.

In Popular Culture

Metoposaurus was shown in the "Dawn of the Dinos" episode of Paleoworld. It was also shown in a book version of Walking with Dinosaurs.

Gallery

• 

  Metoposaurus fossils, Muséum national d'histoire naturelle, Paris

• 

  Metoposaurus diagnosticus krasiejowensis from Poland

• 

  Dorsal view of Metoposaurus skull cast, UALVP

• 

  Ventral view of Metoposaurus skull cast, UALVP

• 

  Posterior view of Metoposaurus skull cast, UALVP

• 

  Anterior view of Metoposaurus skull cast, UALVP

References

1. ^ T. Sulej, "Species discrimination of the Late Triassic temnospondyl amphibian Metoposaurus diagnosticus", Acta Paleontologica Polonica, 47, 535-546 (2002)
2. ^ Gaines, Richard M. (2001). Coelophysis. ABDO Publishing Company. pp. 16. ISBN 1-57765-488-9. 
3. ^ Gaines, Richard M. (2001). Coelophysis. ABDO Publishing Company. pp. 16. ISBN 1-57765-488-9. 

External links

Paleontology portal