Metoposaurus

Metoposaurus
Temporal range: Norian
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Skeleton of Metoposaurus diagnosticus krasiejowensi in the Krasiejów museum in Poland
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Order: †Temnospondyli
Suborder: †Stereospondyli
Family: †Metoposauridae
Genus: †Metoposaurus
Lydekker, 1890
Species
  • †M. diagnosticus (von Meyer, 1842) (type)
  • †M. krasiejowensi Sulej, 2002
  • †M. algarvensis Brusatte et al 2015

Nomina dubia:

  • †M. fraasi Lucas, 1904
  • †M. jonesi Case, 1920
  • †M. santaecrucis Koken, 1913
Synonyms

Genus-level:

  • Trigonosternum Schmidt, 1931

Species-level:

  • M. heimi Kuhn, 1932
  • M. stuttgartiensis Fraas, 1913
  • Trigonosternum latum Schmidt, 1931

Metoposaurus meaning "front lizard" is an extinct genus of stereospondyl temnospondyls, known from the Late Triassic of Germany, Italy, Poland, and Portugal. This mostly aquatic animal possessed small, weak limbs, sharp teeth, and a large, flat head. This highly flattened creature mainly fed on fish, which it captured with its wide jaws lined with needle-like teeth. Many Metoposaurus mass graves have been found, probably from creatures that grouped together in drying pools during drought.

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