07.12.2012 Views

The Origin and Evolution of Mammals - Moodle

The Origin and Evolution of Mammals - Moodle

The Origin and Evolution of Mammals - Moodle

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

the first one is enlarged, <strong>of</strong>ten to the same size<br />

as the canine. In the lower jaw, it is the second tooth<br />

that is enlarged. Another characteristic concerns the<br />

keel on the angular bone <strong>of</strong> the lower jaw, which<br />

extends well below the jaw articulation <strong>and</strong> so<br />

appears strongly convex in outline. A number <strong>of</strong><br />

postcranial features also characterise the group, such<br />

as weak development <strong>of</strong> the ridges for adductor<br />

(c)<br />

(d)<br />

(a)<br />

Haptodus<br />

EVOLUTION OF MAMMAL-LIKE REPTILES 25<br />

musculature on the ventral side <strong>of</strong> the femur (Reisz<br />

et al. 1992).<br />

Haptodus (Fig. 3.6(a)) is the earliest sphenacodontian,<br />

occurring in rocks <strong>of</strong> Upper Pennsylvanian<br />

age in North America <strong>and</strong> Early Permian in Europe<br />

(Currie 1979; Laurin 1993). It is also the most primitive,<br />

having the lachrymal bone extending all the<br />

way from the orbit to the margin <strong>of</strong> the external<br />

(b) Secodontosaurus<br />

Sphenacodon<br />

Dimetrodon<br />

Figure 3.6 Sphenacodontid pelycosaurs. (a) Skull <strong>of</strong> Haptodus garnettensis in lateral view (Laurin 1993). (b) Skull <strong>of</strong> Secodontosaurus obtusidens in<br />

lateral view (Reisz et al. 1992) (c) Reconstructed skeleton <strong>of</strong> Sphenacodon ferox (Romer <strong>and</strong> Price 1940) (d) Reconstructed skeleton <strong>of</strong> Dimetrodon<br />

limbatus. (Romer <strong>and</strong> Price 1940).

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!