Petrolacosaurus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Petrolacosaurus |
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| Petrolacosaurus kansensis | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Araeoscelida
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Petrolacosauridae
Peabody, 1952
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Petrolacosaurus
Lane, 1945
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Petrolacosaurus kansensis
Lane, 1945
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Petrolacosaurus was a small, ancient reptile that lived about 302 million years ago. It was only about 40 centimeters (16 inches) long. This creature is very important because it is the earliest known diapsid.
Scientists found its fossils in Kansas, USA. These fossils tell us a lot about early reptile life.
Contents
About Petrolacosaurus
Petrolacosaurus lived during a time called the Carboniferous period. This period was known for its vast forests and many insects. The rocks where its fossils were found are from the Pennsylvanian age.
What Did It Eat?
Petrolacosaurus likely ate small insects. Its teeth were special. It had some teeth that looked like small fangs, similar to the canine teeth in some later animals. These types of teeth are often seen in animals called therapsids, which are ancient relatives of mammals.
What Was a Diapsid?
Petrolacosaurus was one of the first diapsids. A diapsid is a type of reptile that has two special openings on each side of its skull. These openings are behind the eyes. They provide extra space for strong jaw muscles to attach. This design allowed for a powerful bite.
Most modern reptiles, like lizards, snakes, and crocodiles, are diapsids. Birds are also diapsids.
Not an Ancestor of All Reptiles and Mammals
Even though Petrolacosaurus was an early reptile, it was not the ancestor of all modern reptiles and mammals. It was already a diapsid. This means it had already developed the two skull openings.
Animals called synapsids are different. They only have one opening on each side of their skull. Synapsids include ancient creatures that eventually led to mammals. Synapsids split off from the main amniote family tree before diapsids did. So, Petrolacosaurus could not be an ancestor of synapsids or mammals.
Sometimes, TV shows like Walking with Dinosaurs have shown Petrolacosaurus as an ancestor of both reptiles and mammals. However, based on what scientists know, this is not correct.
Images for kids
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Skull diagram
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Skull fossil (specimen KUVP 8351)
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Specimen KUVP 1424, an articulated foot fossil which serves as the holotype of Petrolacosaurus
See also
In Spanish: Petrolacosaurus para niños
