Romeriscus

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Romeriscus
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Order: Diadectomorpha
Family: Limnoscelidae
Genus: Romeriscus
Baird & Carroll, 1968 [1]
Species:
R. periallus
Binomial name
Romeriscus periallus
Baird & Carroll, 1968

Romeriscus is a dubious genus of tetrapod, currently classified as in the family Limnoscelidae, [1] found in the Lower Pennsylvanian Port Hood formation in Nova Scotia. [2]

Romeriscus is known by one species, Romeriscus periallus, from a single holotype, YPM-PU16 482. The holotype specimen has both cranial and post-cranial remains and consists of a badly crushed skull and 25 pre-sacral vertebrae.

It was originally described in 1967 by Baird & Carroll and hypothesized be a limnoscelid due to its skull structure. [2] In 1992, however, this claim was refuted by Laurin & Reisz, who state that the poor preservation of the skull makes such a claim impossible, and that due to its poor condition, the frontal and postfrontal portions of the skull cannot be properly identified as a limnoscelid. [3] Laurin & Reisz came to the conclusion that while Romeriscus is a distinct genus, it cannot conclusively be classified as amniota , or limnoscelidae, instead classifying it as tetrapoda incertae sedis, and nomen dubium , as its status as a Romeriid is unclear. [4]

References

  1. 1 2 "Romeriscus Baird & Carroll, 1968". Global Biodiversity Information Facility .
  2. 1 2 Baird, D.; Carroll, R. L. (1967-07-07). "Romeriscus, the oldest known reptile". Science. 157 (3784): 56–59. Bibcode:1967Sci...157...56B. doi:10.1126/science.157.3784.56. ISSN   0036-8075. PMID   6026664.
  3. Laurin, Michel; Reisz, Robert R. (1992). "A Reassessment of the Pennsylvanian Tetrapod Romeriscus" . Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 12 (4): 524–527. Bibcode:1992JVPal..12..524L. doi:10.1080/02724634.1992.10011478. ISSN   0272-4634. JSTOR   4523476.
  4. J Clark; R L Carroll (1973). Romeriid reptiles from the Lower Permian.