| Glaurung | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Family: | †Weigeltisauridae |
| Genus: | †Glaurung Bulanov & Sennikov, 2015 |
| Type species | |
| †Glaurung schneideri Bulanov & Sennikov, 2015 | |
Glaurung is anextinctgenus ofweigeltisaurid reptile from the UpperPermian ofGermany. The only known species isGlaurung schneideri. Originally considered a specimen ofCoelurosauravus, a later study named it as a new genus after noting that it had several unique characteristics relative to other weigeltisaurids. These characteristics included a low skull, small eyes, smoothparietal andsquamosal bones, and spinyjugal bones.[1]
Glaurung schneideri is known from a slab and counterslab discovered in 2002 by fossil collector Thomas Schneider. It was found in LatePermianKupferschiefer sediments nearMansfeld,Germany. Although the original specimen remains in Schneider's private collection, there are several casts in European museums, such as MBR 3610 (stored at theMuseum fur Naturkunde inBerlin) and PIN 5392/1 (stored at thePaleontological Institute inMoscow). The specimen consists of a flattened skull as well as material from the pectoral girdle, forelimbs, vertebrae, and gliding structures (termed "patagial spurs"). Although it was originally referred toCoelurosauravus by Schaumberg, Unwin, & Brandt (2007),[2] it was later given its own genus and species by Bulanov & Sennikov (2015). The genus is named afterGlaurung, the fictional ancestor of alldragons inJ.R.R. Tolkien'sMiddle Earth legendarium. Thespecific name honors Thomas Schneider.[1]
Like other weigeltisaurids,Glaurung possessed bony extensions on the side of the body which probably supported apatagial membrane, allowing it to glide. In addition, bones at the rear of the skull formed a distinctive crest similar to that of other members of the family. Most of its distinguishing qualities (compared to other members of the family) relate to the structure of this crest.[1]
The crest manifested as two large, rectangular horns which projected straight back. These horns were extensions of theparietal bones, known as caudal processes. The parietal bones also formed the part of the skull between the base of the horns and above the braincase. The caudal processes were long and quite wide, with each horn almost as wide as the distance between them. Apart from small ridges and bumps along their anterolateral (front and outer) edge, the horns were rather unornamented, without the large spines present on the parietals of other weigeltisaurids. The caudal process of each parietal defined the upper edge of a large hole in the skull known as the temporal fenestra, while the rear edge of this hole was formed by thesquamosal bone. Like the parietals' caudal processes, the squamosals were similarly widened and relatively unornamented. On the other hand, thejugal (cheek bone) had large, conical spines with rounded tips. Although a lack of spines on the parietals and squamosals may indicate that theGlaurung specimens were juveniles, the well-developed jugal spines indicates that a more likely explanation is that they were legitimate distinguishing features of adult members of the genus.[1]
Theorbits (eye sockets) were relatively small. Thepostorbital bone, which formed the upper rear edge of each orbit, also had a rear branch which underscored a portion of the parietal horns and formed part of the upper edge of the temporal fenestra. The teeth were fewer in number compared to other weigeltisaurids, and the teeth towards the rear part of the mouth were flattened near their tips. Based on the small size of the orbits, their elevated position relative to the rest of the skull), and the wideness of the squamosals, it is likely thatGlaurung had a lower, broader skull than other known weigeltisaurids. Bulanov & Sennikov (2015) consideredGlaurung to be so distinctive (compared to other weigeltisaurids) that they placed it in its own subfamily,Glaurunginae.[1]
The Kupferschiefer is a marine unit that forms part of theZechstein, a sequence of rocks formed on the edge of the Zechstein Sea, a large inland shallow sea that existed in Northern Europe during the Late Permian. The environment at the time of deposition is considered to have beensemi-arid. The terrestrial flora of the Zechstein is dominated by conifers, withseed ferns also being common, whiletaeniopterids,ginkgophytes andsphenophytes are rare. Other terrestrial vertebrates found in the Kupfershiefer and lower Zechstein include the fellow weigeltisauridWeigeltisaurus, the earlyarchosauromorphProtorosaurus, thepareiasaurParasaurus, thecynodontProcynosuchus, and indeterminatecaptorhinids,dicynodonts, anddissorophidtemnospondyls.[3][4][5]
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