On a new reptile from Welte Vreden (Beaufort West), Eunotosaurus Africanus (Seeley) / by H.G. Seeley.

  • Seeley, H. G. (Harry Govier), 1839-1909.
Date:
1892
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On a new reptile from Welte Vreden (Beaufort West), Eunotosaurus Africanus (Seeley) / by H.G. Seeley. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    ETJNOTOSAURUS AFUICANUS FROM BEAUFORT WEST. 585 away from the bone beneath in places, but there is no proof that it is a separate ossification. Some approach to this type of rib is seen in Cratmrmis from the Gosau Beds.^ Still, as the centrums have a Chelonian aspect, it is interesting that the ribs should also simulate the ribs and costal plates of Chelonians. But they were clearly free at their margins, and rather resembled the ribs of certain Edentata, like Oi/clothunis, in their superior aspect. Tho ribs are about 5 centimetres long. There are one or two wide thin bones in the ven- tral cavity which have the aspect of being sternal ribs, or their representatives. And although there is no proof that they are correctly identified, the possibility of such ossifications being present is worth recording, as it might be a further approximation towards the Chelonian type. Nevertheless, too much importance may he attributed to such characters, unless it is remembered that the specimen aflfords no proof that the whole of the dorsal vertebrae are preserved. At the posterior ventral extremity is the left os pubis (see fig. 1), a flattened bone of moderate size, thin, rather longer than -wide, with a notch at the external posterior border, which recalls the con- dition of the bone in various Mesosauria. At the right hinder corner of the specimen are fragments of two parallel slender cylindroid bones which may be parts of the tibia and fibula. Erom the fragmentary condition of the remains, it seems to me inexpedient to determine absolutely the systematic position of the genus. Every character preserved differs from those of South African fossils hitherto known, with the exception of the imperfect pubis. This bone strongly suggests that the specimen is referable to the Mesosauria, in which it is likely to be placed, in a division distinct from the Proganosauria. In conclusion I would express my thanks to the Committee of the Government Grant Fund of the lioyal Society, for assistance in making this investigation. * Quart Journ. Geol. Soc. vol. xxxvii. (1881) pi. xxvii. fig. 18.