The pelycosaurs (from Greek pelyx meaning 'bowl' and sauros meaning 'lizard') were primitive Late Paleozoic synapsid amniotes. Some species were quite large and could grow up to 3 meters or more, although most species were much smaller. They appeared during the Late Carboniferous and reached their acme in the early part of the Permian Period, remaining the dominant land animals for many millions of years. A few continued into the late Permian. The Paleozoic Era (from the Greek palaio, old and zoion, animals, meaning ancient life) is the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon. ... Orders & Suborders Order Pelycosauria * Suborder Caseasauria Suborder Eupelycosauria * Order Therapsida * Suborder Biarmosuchia Suborder Dinocephalia Suborder Anomodontia Suborder Gorgonopsia Suborder Therocephalia Suborder Cynodontia * For complete phylogeny, see text. ... Extant subgroups Synapsida     Mammalia (mammals) Sauropsida    Anapsida        Testudines (turtles)    Diapsida        Lepidosauria           Squamata (lizards and snakes)           Sphenodontida (tuatara)        Archosauria           Crocodilia (crocodiles and alligators)           Aves (birds) The amniotes are a group of vertebrates, comprising the mammals, birds, and various other groups collectively referred to as reptiles. ... The Pennsylvanian is an epoch of the Carboniferous period lasting from roughly 325 Ma to 299 Ma (million years ago). ... The Carboniferous is a major division of the geologic timescale that extends from the end of the Devonian period, about 359. ... Cisuralian is the first of the three epoches of the Permian. ... The Permian is a geologic period that extends from about 299. ... A geologic period is a subdivision of geologic time that divides an era into smaller timeframes. ... Lopingian is the third of the three epoches of the Permian. ...

At least two pelycosaur clades independently evolved a tall sail, consisting of elongated vertebral spines: the edaphosaurids and the sphenacodontids. In life, this would have been covered by skin, and possibly functioned as a thermoregulatory device or for mating display. Pelycosaur fossils have been found mainly in Europe and North America, although some small, late-surviving forms are known from Russia and South Africa. Greek clados = branch) or phylogenetic systematics is a branch of biology that determines the evolutionary relationships of living things based on derived similarities. ... Genera Edaphosaurus Ianthasaurus The Edaphosauridae are a family of mostly large (up to 3 meters or more) advanced, Late Pennsylvanian to early Permian pelycosaurs. ... Genera Haptodus Secodontosaurus Sphenacodon Ctenospondylus Dimetrodon The Sphenacodontidae are a family of small to large, advanced, carnivorous, Late Pennsylvanian to middle Permian pelycosaurs. ... Thermoregulation is the ability of an organism to keep its body temperature within certain boundaries, even when temperature surrounding is very different. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ...

Well-known pelycosaurs include the genera Dimetrodon, Sphenacodon, Edaphosaurus, and Ophiacodon. For other uses of the word, please see Genus (disambiguation). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Species Sphenacodon britannicus Sphenacodon ferox Sphenacodon ferocior Sphenacodon was a pelycosaur that was 10 feet in length. ... Edaphosaurus was much like the Dimetrodon but ate plants and screeched in a high pitched tone that often sounded like Boris, dont touch me there! ... Ophiacodon is a large synapsid pelycosaur. ...

In 1940 the group was reviewed in detail and every species known at the time described (and many illustrated) in an important monograph by Alfred Sherwood Romer and Llewellyn Price. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Alfred Sherwood Romer (December 28, 1894 _ November 5, 1973) was an American paleontologist and comparative anatomist and a specialist in vertebrate evolution. ... Llewellyn Ivor Price (Santa Maria, October 9, 1905-1980) was a Brazilian paleontologist. ...

Pelycosauria is a paraphyletic taxon because it excludes the therapsids. For that reason the term is not used in some modern books. Eupelycosauria is used to designate the clade that includes most Pelycosaurs along with the Therapsida and the Mammals. In contrast to "Pelycosaurs", this is monophyletic group. Caseasauria refers to a pelycosaur side-branch or clade that did not leave any descendants. Paraphyletic - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Groups Biarmosuchia Dinocephalia Anomodontia Theriodontia    Cynodontia       (...mammals) Therapsids, previously known as the mammal-like reptiles, are a group of synapsids. ... Families and Clades Varanopseidae Ophiacodontidae Edaphosauridae Sphenacodontia Sphenacodontidae Therapsida Mammalia The Eupelycosauria originally referred to a suborder of Pelycosaurs (Reisz 1987), but has been redefined (Laurin and Reisz 1997) to designate a monophyletic clade of synapsids that includes most pelycosaurs, as well as all therapsids and mammals. ... In phylogenetics, a group is monophyletic (Greek: of one stem) if all organisms in that group are known to have developed from a common ancestral form, and all descendants of that form are included in the group. ... Genera and Families Caseidae Eothyrididae Caseoides ?Phreatophasma The Caseasauria are one of the two main clades of early synapsids, the other being the Eupelycosauria. ...

The pelycosaurs appear to have been a group of synapsids that had direct ancestral links with the mammalia, having differentiated teeth and a developing hard palate.

Taxonomy and Phylogeny

Eothyris

Cotylorhynchus

Varanops

Ophiacodon

Edaphosaurus

Haptodus

Dimetrodon

• Class Synapsida
  • ORDER PELYCOSAURIA *
    • Suborder Caseasauria
      • Family Eothyrididae
        • Eothyris
        • Oedaleops
      • Family Caseidae
        • Angelosaurus
        • Casea
        • Caseopsis
        • Cotylorhynchus
        • Ennatosaurus
        • Knoxosaurus
        • Caseoides
    • Suborder Eupelycosauria
      • Family Varanopseidae
        • Varanosaurus
        • Archaeovenator
        • Pyozia
        • Mycterosaurus
        • Mesenosaurus
        • Elliotsmithia
        • Ruthiromia
        • Aerosaurus
        • Varanodon
        • Varanops
      • Family Ophiacodontidae
        • Archaeothyris
        • Baldwinonus
        • Clepsydrops
        • Limnostygis
        • Ophiacodon
        • Stereophallodon
        • Stereorhachis
      • Family Edaphosauridae
        • Edaphosaurus
        • Ianthasaurus
        • Glaucosaurus
      • Family Lupeosauridae
        • Lupeosaurus
      • Sphenacodontia
        •  ?Watongia
        • Haptodus
        • Palaeohatteria
        • Pantelosaurus
        • Cutleria
        • Sphenacodontoidea
          • Family Sphenacodontidae
            • Ctenorhachis
            • Steppesaurus
            • Bathygnathus
            • Ctenospondylus
            • Dimetrodon
            • Neosaurus
            • Secodontosaurus
            • Sphenacodon
  • ORDER THERAPSIDA *

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Species Eothyris Parkeyi Eothyris is an extinct genus of the family Eothyrididae. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Ophiacodon is a large synapsid pelycosaur. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Edaphosaurus was much like the Dimetrodon but ate plants and screeched in a high pitched tone that often sounded like Boris, dont touch me there! ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Species ? ? Haptodus was a small sphenacodont, a lineage that includes therapsids. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (800x885, 43 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Dimetrodon Wikipedia:WikiProject Dinosaurs/Image review User:ArthurWeasley:Permian ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (800x885, 43 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Dimetrodon Wikipedia:WikiProject Dinosaurs/Image review User:ArthurWeasley:Permian ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Groups Caseasauria Eupelycosauria    Sphenacodontia       Therapsida          (...mammals) Synapsids (fused arch), formerly known as mammal-like reptiles, are a group of amniotes (reptiles and all their ancestors) that developed one hole in their skull (temporal fenestra) behind each eye, about 320 million years ago (Ma) during the late Carboniferous. ... Paraphyletic - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Genera and Families Caseidae Eothyrididae Caseoides ?Phreatophasma The Caseasauria are one of the two main clades of early synapsids, the other being the Eupelycosauria. ... Genera Eothyris Oedaleops The Eothyrididae were a small group of very primitive, insectivorous synapsids. ... Species Eothyris Parkeyi Eothyris is an extinct genus of the family Eothyrididae. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Genera Angelosaurus Casea Caseopsis Caseoides Cotylorhynchus Ennatosaurus Knoxosaurus Oromycter The Caseidae were a widespread group of very primitive herbivorous synapsids, they appeared during the later Early Permian and persisted until the late Middle Permian. ... Angelosaurus dolani (Dolans Angel or messenger lizard, Olson & Berrbower 1953) was a pelycosaur (an extinct clade) of reptile. ... Casea is an extinct genus of pelycosaur synapsid which was about 1,20 m (4 ft) long, slightly smaller than the otherwise very similar Caseoides. ... Species Caseopsis agilis Caseopsis was a large pelycosaur that was about 3 meters long. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Species Caseoides sanangelensis Caseoides was a large pelycosaur synapsid that lived in the Kungurian Age (late Early Permian epoch). ... Families and Clades Varanopseidae Ophiacodontidae Edaphosauridae Sphenacodontia Sphenacodontidae Therapsida Mammalia The Eupelycosauria originally referred to a suborder of Pelycosaurs (Reisz 1987), but has been redefined (Laurin and Reisz 1997) to designate a monophyletic clade of synapsids that includes most pelycosaurs, as well as all therapsids and mammals. ... Groups See taxonomy Varanopseidae were synapsid pelycosaurs that resemble monitor lizards and may have had the same lifestyle. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Species Mycterosaurus longiceps Mycterosaurus is a pelycosaur belonging to the family Varanopseidae of the subfamily Mycterosaurinae. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Genera Archaeothyris ?Protoclepsydrops Ophiacodon Stereophallodon Stereorhachis Ophiacodonts were pelycosaur synapsids. ... Binomial name Archaeothyris florensis Reisz, 1972 Archaeothyris was an amniote, it was lizard-like in appearance. ... Species Clepsydrops sp. ... Ophiacodon is a large synapsid pelycosaur. ... Genera Edaphosaurus Ianthasaurus The Edaphosauridae are a family of mostly large (up to 3 meters or more) advanced, Late Pennsylvanian to early Permian pelycosaurs. ... Edaphosaurus was much like the Dimetrodon but ate plants and screeched in a high pitched tone that often sounded like Boris, dont touch me there! ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Genera and Clades See Taxonomy Sphenacodontia is the name given to the monophyletic clade that includes the Sphenacodontidae and all their descendents (including mammals). ... Species ? ? Haptodus was a small sphenacodont, a lineage that includes therapsids. ... Genera and Clades See Taxonomy Sphenacodontoidea is the name given to the clade that includes the most recent common ancestor of the Sphenacodontidae and the Therapsida and their descendants (including mammals). ... Genera Haptodus Secodontosaurus Sphenacodon Ctenospondylus Dimetrodon The Sphenacodontidae are a family of small to large, advanced, carnivorous, Late Pennsylvanian to middle Permian pelycosaurs. ... Species Ctenorhachis jacksoni Ctenorhachis is an extinct genus of the family Sphenacodontidae. ... Steppesaurus is an extinct genus of pelycosaur belonging to the Sphenacodontidae family. ... Bathygnathus was a pelycosaur, a non-dinosaurian reptile which lived around the same time as the dinosaurs. ... Binomial name Ctenospondylus was a pelycosaur that was about 3 meters (10 feet) long. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Hypsibema is a little-known dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous. ... Species Secodontosaurus longiramus Secodontosaurus obtusidens Secodontosaurus was a pelycosaur that lived in Early Permian age. ... Species Sphenacodon britannicus Sphenacodon ferox Sphenacodon ferocior Sphenacodon was a pelycosaur that was 10 feet in length. ... Groups Biarmosuchia Dinocephalia Anomodontia Theriodontia    Cynodontia       (...mammals) Therapsids, previously known as the mammal-like reptiles, are a group of synapsids. ... Paraphyletic - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

See also

• Mammal-like reptiles

Mammal-like reptiles is a term used to describe the prehistoric animals that appear to be the reptilian ancestors of mammals. ...

References

• Reisz, R. R., 1986, Handbuch der Paläoherpetologie – Encyclopedia of Paleoherpetology, Part 17A Pelycosauria Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil, ISBN 3-89937-032-5
• Romer, AS & Price L.I (1940), Review of the Pelycosauria. Geol. Soc. Amer. Spec. Papers 28: 1-538.

Alfred Sherwood Romer (December 28, 1894 _ November 5, 1973) was an American paleontologist and comparative anatomist and a specialist in vertebrate evolution. ... Llewellyn Ivor Price (Santa Maria, October 9, 1905-1980) was a Brazilian paleontologist. ... GFDL Wikispecies logo File links The following pages link to this file: Solanaceae Species Asterias Homo (genus) Human Wikipedia:Template messages/Links Wikipedia:Template messages/All Homo floresiensis User talk:Tuneguru Template:Wikispecies Categories: GFDL images ... Wikispecies is a sister project supported by the Wikimedia Foundation that anybody can edit with a great potential use to students and researchers. ...

External links

• Introduction to the Pelycosaurs - at UCMP
• Synapsida - Pelycosauria - at Palaeos