4.11 Hypsognathus fenneri

This is the cast of the skull and lower jaw of a procolophonid.

Procolophonids are members of a parareptile clade of amniotes which also includes the pareiasaurs and possibly turtles. Note the dorsoventrally flattened, subtriangular head, which possesses little bumps and spikes on its surface. These features, combined with the emargination of the posterior margin of the orbit, are highly characteristic of the procolophonids. (see also Procolophon).

Can you identify the transverse flange of the pterygoid that tells you this animal is probably an amniote?

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