Pamelaria dolichotrachela (Sen 2003) Middle Triassic, ~230 mya, ~2.5 m in length, was found as a scattered specimen mixed in with Yarasuchus (Sen 2005). Derived from a sister to Boreopricea and Jaxtasuchus, Pamelaria was a sister to Azendohsaurus.
Distinct from Prolacerta, the skull of Pamelaria was relatively smaller with a shorter rostrum and smaller teeth. The nares were reported as confluent, but that area of the skull was poorly preserved. The premaxilla was more robust. The postorbital was waisted at the postfrontal process. The quadrate was nearly vertical. The lacrimal was larger. The orbit was taller than long. The palate included smaller openings for the choanae due to a wider set of vomers. The parasphenoid was larger. The mandible elements were all shorter, including the teeth. The ventral rim of the mandible was straighter.
The cervicals were each longer. The tail was relatively shorter. The dorsal ribs were longer and more robust, enclosing a larger gut.
The scapula was taller and not fused to the coracoid. The forelimbs were more robust. Digits 3 and 4 were nearly equal in length. Ungual 1 was deeper proximally.
The pelvis was relatively shorter with an excavated ventral rim. The fibula was bowed away from the tibia. The foot was more robust with shorter digits. Metatarsals 2 and 3 were aligned with the base of ungual 1.
Sen (2003) considered Pamelaria a carnivore. With a bulkier body, smaller head and longer neck, Pamelaria must have looked like a sauropod, except with sprawling, lizard-like limbs. The small teeth and large gut suggest an herbivorous diet. |
