Protoclepsydrops Temporal range:
Late Carboniferous,
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Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Clade: | Synapsida |
Clade: | incertae sedis |
Genus: | †
Protoclepsydrops Carroll, 1964 |
Type species | |
†Protoclepsydrops haplous Carroll, 1964
|
Protoclepsydrops is an extinct genus of early synapsids, found in Joggins, Nova Scotia. [1] The name means 'first Clepsydrops', and refers to it being the predecessor of the other early synapsid Clepsydrops.
Like Archaeothyris, Protoclepsydrops resembled a modern lizard in superficial appearance. However, Protoclepsydrops had primitive vertebrae with tiny neural processes typical of their amniote ancestors. Protoclepsydrops is known from a few vertebrae and some humeri. [2]
Its skeletal remains indicate that it may have been more closely related to synapsids than to sauropsids, making it a possible stem-mammal. If so, it is the oldest synapsid known, though its status is unconfirmed because its remains are too fragmentary. Protoclepsydrops lived slightly earlier than Archaeothyris. [3] It is possibly synonymous with Asaphestera, another early synapsid discovered from the same locality. [4]
Protoclepsydrops Temporal range:
Late Carboniferous,
| |
---|---|
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Clade: | Synapsida |
Clade: | incertae sedis |
Genus: | †
Protoclepsydrops Carroll, 1964 |
Type species | |
†Protoclepsydrops haplous Carroll, 1964
|
Protoclepsydrops is an extinct genus of early synapsids, found in Joggins, Nova Scotia. [1] The name means 'first Clepsydrops', and refers to it being the predecessor of the other early synapsid Clepsydrops.
Like Archaeothyris, Protoclepsydrops resembled a modern lizard in superficial appearance. However, Protoclepsydrops had primitive vertebrae with tiny neural processes typical of their amniote ancestors. Protoclepsydrops is known from a few vertebrae and some humeri. [2]
Its skeletal remains indicate that it may have been more closely related to synapsids than to sauropsids, making it a possible stem-mammal. If so, it is the oldest synapsid known, though its status is unconfirmed because its remains are too fragmentary. Protoclepsydrops lived slightly earlier than Archaeothyris. [3] It is possibly synonymous with Asaphestera, another early synapsid discovered from the same locality. [4]