Protorosauria
- Europe
- North America
- Asia
The Protorosauria or Prolacertiformes are an extinct group of basal archosaurs. They existed from the Permian to the Triassic. The animals were characterized by a strongly elongated neck, which was created by an extreme extension of the individual cervical vertebrae and a shift of the shoulder girdle to the rear. The most representative of Protorosauria aquatil lived in and around the water, while others, such as the gliding enabled Sharovipteryx lived on trees.
A representative of the Protorosauria is Tanystropheus longobardicus from the Middle Triassic, which was found in the Southern Alps. This type was six feet long, about half of the neck accounted for. The individual cervical vertebrae are about 30 inches long and have a diameter of no more than five centimeters, the head is very small. Based on comparative anatomical studies is thought that the neck was very stiff and could hardly be lifted over the body.
System
- Protorosauria Protorosauridae Protorosaurus
- Czatkowiella
- Kadimakara
- Pamelaria
- Prolacerta
- Sharovipteryx
- Tanytrachelos
- Tanystropheus
- Dinocephalosaurus