Protorosaurus
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Protorosaurus Temporal range: Lopingian, 260–251 Ma |
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| Fossil specimen, Teyler's Museum | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Genus: |
†Protorosaurus von Meyer, 1830 |
| Species: | †P. speneri |
| Binomial name | |
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Protorosaurus speneri von Meyer, 1830 |
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Protorosaurus ("first lizard") is a genus of lizard-like early archosauromorph reptile. It lived during the late Permian period in Germany.
Protorosaurus grew up to 2 metres (6.6 ft) in length, and was a slender, lizard-like animal, with long legs and a long neck. Its body form suggests that it was fast-moving, although it may have fed primarily on insects.Protorosaurus was closely related to Czatkowiella from the Early Triassic of Poland.
In 1914, a new ceratopsian dinosaur found by Lawrence Lambe was again given the name Protorosaurus (in this sense meaning "before Torosaurus"). When Lambe found that the name had already been used for the early archosauromorph, he renamed his ceratopsian Chasmosaurus.
In Geopark of Paleorrota, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, 3 vertebrae and some bones of the animal were found.
The cladogram below follows an analysis by Ezcurra (2016), and highlights the position of Protorosaurus among other early archosauromorph reptiles.
†Protorosaurus
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