Batropetes fritschi (Carroll and Gaskill 1971, Carroll 1991) Sakmarian, Early Permian ~9 cm in length was first considered a captorhinomorph reptile, however the double condyle at the base of the skull, and other characters like the four manual digits, marks Batropetes as a microsaur. Derived from a sister to Micraroter, Batropetes phylogenetically preceded Rhynchonkos.
Distinct from Micraroter, the skull of Batropetes was shorter with the naris shifted anteriorly, halfway anterior to all teeth. Both the rostrum and the postorbital portions were shorter. The squamosal contacted the jugal and broadly contacted the postorbital completely refilling the ventral cheek emargination. The occiput was broadly visible in lateral view. The teeth were elongated and tipped with three cusps each.
The torso was shorter and broader with fewer dorsal vertebrae.
The limbs and girdles were more robust. Digit 3 on both the hand and foot were the longest digits. |
