Seymouria | 3D Dinopedia

Seymouria

Period of life:

296.4-273 million years ago

Period:

Permian period

Habitat:

Floodplains

Taxonomy:

Amphibians

Height:

0.2 m

Countries:

Seymouria (296.4-273 million years ago)

What the name means: Named after the city of Seymour in Texas, where its fossils were found.

Seymouria, an inhabitant of the Permian period, occupies a special place in evolutionary history. This ancient reptiliomorph, although considered an ancestor of reptiles, still retained many amphibian traits. Seymourias represent a transitional link, demonstrating how animals gradually adapted to life on land.

Physically, these creatures resembled stout lizards with a large head, short neck, and broad feet. They were not large, about 60 cm in length. Their angular, triangular skull and wide neural arches of the vertebrae are distinctive features of these beings. To survive in the dry climate of the Permian period, seymourias developed a number of adaptations that brought them closer to reptiles. Strong short legs allowed them to move on land in search of food and made them less dependent on water sources.

Despite these progressive traits, the structure of the skull and dental apparatus of seymourias still resembles early amphibians. However, some features, such as the structure of the jaw, already indicate a relationship with amniotes – a group of animals that includes reptiles, birds, and mammals. Based on the structure of their limbs, seymourias were not capable of fast running. Most likely, they led a predatory lifestyle, hunting insects, small vertebrates, and raiding reptile egg clutches.

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