Pareiasaurus serridens

Of the many species of Pareiasaurus that have been described, only P. serridens is firmly recognized today, as the others are either considered synonyms or have been transferred into different genera. Pareiasaurus is one of the latest pareiasaurs, a group of large plant eaters that was dominating the end of the Permian period, with a well developed armor consisting of many osteoderms.

Name

Pareiasaurus serridens

Authority

Owen, 1876

Size

Length: 2.5 m

Remains

Complete skeleton

Age and Distribution

Upper Permian Daptocephalus zone, Karoo basin, South Africa.

Classification

Anapsida Hallucicrania Pareiasauria

Further Reading

R. Broom. 1913. A revision of the reptiles of the Karroo. Annals of the South African Museum 7(6):361-366.

Synonyms

Propappus serridens (Owen, 1876), Propappus omocratus Seeley, 1888, Pareiasaurus omocratus (Seeley, 1888), Pareiasaurus minor Seeley, 1892, Anthodon gregoryi Broom, 1930, Propappus rogersi Broom, 1912, Brachypareia rogersi (Broom, 1912), Bradysaurus rogersi (Broom, 1912), Pareiasaurus pinnatus Olson & Broom, 1937, Pareiasaurus rubidgei Broom, 1940, Anthodon nesemanni Broom, 1940

Image by Nobu Tamura (click to enlarge)

Pareiasaurus serridens: