Procolophon trigoniceps

This stocky lizard-like creature has a very short, squat body and stubby limbs. The quadratojugal horns on the side of its skull give the characteristic heart-like shape to its head. Besides Procolophon trigoniceps known from numerous remains from South Africa and Antarctica, there are two other recognized species, P. pricei and P. brasiliensis, both from the Sanga do Cabral Formation of Brazil which is of the same age than the Lystrosaurus assemblage of South Africa.

Name

Procolophon trigoniceps

Authority

Owen, 1876

Size

Length: 30 cm

Remains

Several skeletons.

Age and Distribution

Lower Triassic Lystrosaurus Assemblage Zone of the Karoo Basin, South Africa, Fremouw Formation of Antarctica.

Classification

Anapsida Procolomorpha Procolophonoidea Procolophonidae Procolophoninae

Synonyms

P. minor Owen, 1876; P. griersoni Seeley, 1878; P. cuneiceps Seeley, 1878; P. laticeps Seeley, 1878; P. platyrhinus Seeley, 1905; P. sphenorhinus Seeley, 1905

Image by Nobu Tamura (click to enlarge)

Procolophon trigoniceps: