Biology:Provelosaurus

Short description: Extinct genus of reptiles

Provelosaurus Temporal range: Capitanian ~260 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Procolophonomorpha
Family:	†Pareiasauridae
(unranked):	†Pumiliopareiasauria
Genus:	Provelosaurus Lee, 1997
Type species
†Pareiasaurus americanus Araújo, 1985
Synonyms
Pareiasaurus americanus Araújo, 1985

Provelosaurus is an extinct Pareiasaur genus of the Late Permian found on the road between Aceguá and Bagé in the Paleorrota, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil . Found in the Rio do Rasto Formation, aged about 260 million years. The holotype specimen found measures 1.2 metres (3 ft 11 in) in length.

Classification

Originally described as a South American representative of the genus Pareiasaurus, it was assigned to a new genus Provelosaurus by Lee (1997), who noted it shows more affinities with the small, highly derived, South African dwarf pareiasaurs (called Pumiliopareiasauria by Jalil & Janvier 2005 ) than with the more typical Pareiasaurus. According to Lee, Provelosaurus bridges the morphological gap between the advanced South African and the more generalized pareiasaurs. The African and Brazilian fauna is often very similar.

External links

• Elginiidae and Pumiliopareiasauria at Palaeos

Wikidata ☰ Q7252325 entry