Pelorocephalus mendozensis Cabrera, 1944
Systematics: Temnospondyli Stereospondyli Chigutisauridae
Size: 1 m long
Type Horizon and Locality: Late Triassic, Cacheuta Formation (Carnian), Mendoza Province, Argentina
Type Specimen: Holotype MLP 44-VII-5-1 (a skull), La Plata Museum, La Plata, Argentina
The fully aquatic Pelorocephalus ("Monstrous head") was a member of the Chigutisaurid family which is one of the few families of temnospondyl amphibians that will survive the end of Triassic extinction. Chigutisaurids were restricted to the supercontinent of Gondwana (South America, Africa, Australia, India, Antarctica).
References:
Marsicano, C. A. (1991). Redescripción del cráneo del holotipo de Pelorocephalus mendozensis Cabrera, 1944 (Amphibia, Temnospodyli) del Triásico del Cerro Bayo, provincia de Mendoza. Ameghiniana, 27, 39-44.
August 20, 2017
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