Scutosaurus

Taxobox
name = "Scutosaurus"
fossil_range = Late Permian

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image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Scutosaurus karpinskii" from Russia
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
subclassis = Anapsida
ordo = Procolophonia
familia = Pareiasauridae
genus = "Scutosaurus"

"Scutosaurus" ("Shield Reptile") was a genus of armor-covered pareiasaur, perhaps as much as 3.5 m long, which lived around 252-248 million years ago in Russia, in the later Permian period. Its genus name refers to large plates of armor scattered across its body. It was a large anapsid reptile that, unlike most reptiles, held its legs underneath its body to support its great weight.

Description

As a plant-eater living in a semi-arid climate, "Scutosaurus" would have wandered widely in order find fresh foliage to eat. It may have stuck closely to the riverbanks and floodplains where plant life would have been more abundant, straying further afield only during times of drought. Its teeth were flattened and could grind away at the leaves and young branches before digesting them at length in its large gut. Given that it needed to eat constantly, "Scutosaurus" probably lived alone, or in very small herds, so as to avoid denuding large areas of their edible plants.

With its large cheekbones, "Scutosaurus" may have been able to make a loud bellowing sound. It had excellent hearing and could have heard other animals bellowing from some distance away. These noises could have been used for mating or as warning signals.Fact|date=September 2008

Despite its relatively small size, "Scutosaurus" was heavy, and its short legs meant that it could not move at speed for long periods of time, which made it vulnerable to attack by large predators. To defend itself "Scutosaurus" had a thick skeleton covered with powerful muscles, especially in the neck region. Underneath the skin were rows of hard, bony plates (scutes) that acted like a form of chain mail.

In Popular Culture

"Scutosaurus" was shown in the "Walking with Monsters" series as being a social animal that migrated in groups. "Scutosaurus" was depicted as being the main prey of a large gorgonopsid, later erroneously identified in the books as "Gorgonops". It was highly unlikely that "Gorgonops" preyed on these beasts, as it was indigenous to the region in Gondwana that is now South Africa. "Scutosaurus" was indigenous to the region in Laurasia that is now Siberia. However, the Russian gorgonopsid "Inostrancevia" may have preyed on "Scutosaurus", instead.

"Scutosaurus" was also shown in the "Primeval" series. See List of creatures in Primeval.

References

Haines, Tim, and Paul Chambers. The Complete Guide to Prehistoric Life. Pg. 46-47. Canada: Firefly Books Ltd., 2006

External links

* [http://www.gondwanastudios.com/info/scut.htm Scutosaurus, Gondwana Studios]