. Carnegie Institution of Washington publication. 94 THE COAL MEASURES AMPHIBIA OF NORTH AMERICA. t-or A small species of Microsauria is preserved as a smooth impression on a block of soft coal from Linton, Ohio. Nearly the entire form of the body is discernible. The specimen is especially interesting and valuable as exhibiting for the first time among the Linton forms the shape of the body of the small microsaurians of the Tuditanus type. It differs so markedly in the form of the skull from other species of the genus that it is regarded as a distinct form, and the name Tuditanus walcotti was


. Carnegie Institution of Washington publication. 94 THE COAL MEASURES AMPHIBIA OF NORTH AMERICA. t-or A small species of Microsauria is preserved as a smooth impression on a block of soft coal from Linton, Ohio. Nearly the entire form of the body is discernible. The specimen is especially interesting and valuable as exhibiting for the first time among the Linton forms the shape of the body of the small microsaurians of the Tuditanus type. It differs so markedly in the form of the skull from other species of the genus that it is regarded as a distinct form, and the name Tuditanus walcotti was proposed for it as an expression of the writer's indebtedness to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution for the vise of the material among which the present form was included. The specimen includes, besides the body impression, the complete skull, a right clavicle, with portions of the left, a left humerus, 12 cervical and dorsal vertebra?, 10 pairs of ribs somewhat disturbed as to position, and a portion of the mandible. There are no traces of ventral scutellae nor body scales in the smooth impression of the carbonized skin. One would expect to find impressions of the ventral scutse in this specimen if they were present. Cope remarked on the apparent absence of scutellae from members of the genus Tuditanus as they were known to him, and no contrary evidence has since been brought to light. Until such evidence is forthcoming the absence of scutes will be taken as one of the generic characters of the genus Tuditanus. Under a magnification of 50 diameters the carbonized skin shows as folds and wrin- kles, like muscle fibers, in some places; in others no traces of the muscular structure can be detected. The wrinkles may be impressions of the internal musculature of the body-wall of the abdomen. It is especially well preserved in the pelvic and pygal regions. Sections of the coal were made, but nothing definite could be determined as to the character of the impressions, as th


Size: 935px × 2673px
Photo credit: © Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: ., bookauthorcarnegie, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookyear1902