Vertebrates from the Middle Triassic Otter Sandstone Formation of Devon
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New vertebrate material from the Otter Sandstone Formation of Devon includes a cleithrolepidid fish, temnospondyl amphibians, a procolophonid reptile, and a tooth which may be attributed to a tanystropheid reptile. The Cleithrolepididae is represented by several specimens of Dipteronotus cyphus. The temnospondyl amphibian material includes two skull roof fragments referable to Mastodonsaurus lavisi, a skull and fragments assignable to the benthosuchid Eocyclotosaurus sp., and one mandibular fragment of an indeterminate large capitosaurid. The procolophonid material comprises several tooth-bearing fragments and a partial interclavicle, and appears to represent a relatively primitive form. A single tricuspid tooth most closely resembles those of the reptile Tanystropheus. An enigmatic elongate bone may be the neural spine of a Ctenosauriscus-like thecodontian or the rib of a dicynodont therapsid. No fish, capitosaurid, or procolophonid material has previously been described from the Otter Sandstone, and the benthosuchid Eocyclotosaurus has not previously been identified in the Triassic of the British Isles. Comparison of this vertebrate assemblage with those of Western and Central Europe and North America supports an Anisian age for the Otter Sandstone.
Palaeontology - Volume 33 Part 4 Pages 873-892Palaeontology - Volume 33 Part 4 Pages 873-892
Citations
MILNER, A. R., GARDINER, B. G., FRASER, N. C., TAYLOR, M. A. 1990. Vertebrates from the Middle Triassic Otter Sandstone Formation of Devon. Palaeontology, 33, 4, 873–892.