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Procolophon trigoniceps


Illustration by N. tamura

Name
Procolophon trigoniceps

Authority
   

Owen, 1876

Meaning of the generic name



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
   Further Reading

  
  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


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.



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