| Proterogyrinus | |
|---|---|
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| Skull diagram | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Order: | †Embolomeri |
| Family: | †Proterogyrinidae |
| Genus: | †Proterogyrinus Romer, 1970 |
| Type species | |
| †Proterogyrinus scheelei Romer, 1970 | |
| Other species | |
| Synonyms | |
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Proterogyrinus is an extinctgenus of earlytetrapods from the orderEmbolomeri. Fossil remains ofProterogyrinus have been found in Scotland, UK, andWest Virginia, United States, and date back to theSerpukhovian (mid-Carboniferous period), which is from about 331 to 323 million years ago.[1] The genus was originally named by renowned vertebrate paleontologistAlfred Sherwood Romer in 1970.[2] A comprehensive redescription was later published by Canadian paleontologist Robert Holmes in 1984.[3] The generic name "Proterogyrinus" isGreek for "earlier wanderer" or "earliertadpole". This name was chosen by Romer in keeping with a trend of naming long-bodied early tetrapods (such asEogyrinus andCrassigyrinus) with the suffix "-gyrinus".[2]
Romer hesitated from designatingProterogyrinus as a true embolomere, because its intercentra (the forward portion of each vertebra) were smaller than its pleurocentra (the rear portion). He used the groupAnthracosauria to encompass embolomeres and their close relatives such asProterogyrinus.[2] However, other sources prefer a wider definition of Embolomeri similar in usage to Romer's Anthracosauria, thus countingProterogyrinus as an embolomere.[3]
In most respectsProterogyrinus resembled other embolomeres such asArcheria, with a moderately elongated skull that was taller than that of other early tetrapods such ascolosteids andtemnospondyls. Members of the genus had strong limbs with several fully-ossified ankle and wrist bones. This would have givenProterogyrinus the ability to walk and hunt on land. However, the presence oflateral line grooves andotic notches which likely heldspiracles show that they were probably more well-adapted for the water. The tail was long and tall, and was likely a powerful method of locomotion. The eyes were positioned high on the skull, supporting the idea thatProterogyrinus had an active lifestyle near the surface of the water.[3]
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