File:Water reptiles of the past and present (1914) (14773015855).jpg

Identifier: waterreptilesofp1914will (find matches)
Title: Water reptiles of the past and present
Year: 1914 (1910s)
Authors: Williston, Samuel Wendell, 1851-1918
Subjects: Aquatic reptiles
Publisher: Chicago, Ill., The University of Chicago Press
Contributing Library: Boston Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Public Library

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ished by Watson. This restorationthe writer has reproduced in the present pages, though he hastaken the liberty of making some minor changes, to accord betterwith what he believes must have been the position of the shoulder-blades and the hind legs. And he would also suggest that the tailin life did not turn down so much at its extremity as depicted byWatson. Both Broom and Watson believe that this animal was a power-ful swimmer, and thoroughly aquatic in habit. To the presentwriter, however, this does not seem so evident. He is ratherinclined to believe that the creature was chiefly terrestrial in habit,living probably in marshy regions, and perhaps seeking its foodin shallow waters and in the mud. Aside from the position of thenostrils, which it will be observed are rather close to the eyes,a position so characteristic of many swimming reptiles and mam-mals, there is but little indication of aquatic adaptations elsewherein the skeleton. 104 WATER REPTILES OF THE PAST AND PRESENT r-O
Text Appearing After Image:
ANOMODONTIA 105 The skull is of most extraordinary form. The face is turneddownward, leaving the nostrils high up, in front of the eyes. Thejaws were doubtless covered with a horny shield, like that of theturtles, having a cutting edge. There is a single pair of elongatedcanine teeth, possibly a sexual character. The lower jaws areheavy and stout, and Watson has said that the animal doubtlesshad the ability to open its mouth very widely. The quadrate, thebone with which the lower jaws articulate, is firmly fixed to theskull, and there is a single opening on the side of the skull poste-riorly, a character common to all the Therapsida. The vertebrae are stout, and they have stout spines. The tailis remarkably short, stout, and stumpy; it could have been of nouse whatever in the water for propulsion or even for steering. Thefront legs are short and stout; the forearm bones are short, sug-gesting either swimming or digging habits, and the foot is short andbroad. The pelvis or hip bones ar

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