Sauropleura longidentata (Cope 1868, Moodie 1909) Westphalian, 310 mya, is a classic nectridean. Derived from a sister toPtyonius, Sauropleura was smaller overall and was basal to the other members of the Nectridea.
Distinct from Ptyonius, the skull of Sauropleura was longer with an even sharper rostrum with much larger teeth. The naris was further displaced posteriorly. The supratemporal was located between the postorbital and tabular dorsal to the squamosal and no longer on the margin of the skull. The jaw joint was displaced posteriorly creating a posterior skull with an anterior lean. Other skeletal details were similar to those of Ptyonius. |
