Scapherpeton tectum, Cope

Lambe L. M., 1902, New genera and species from the Belly River Series (mid-Cretaceous), Geological Survey of Canada Contributions to Canadian Palaeontology 3, pp. 25-81 : 31-32

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.3233762

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4583859

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BAEA64-B536-4072-70CA-FD1DFC7BD92C

treatment provided by

Jeremy

scientific name

Scapherpeton tectum, Cope
status

 

Scapherpeton tectum, Cope Plate III, figs. 4-8 View PLATE III .

.

Scapherpeton tectum, Cope. 1876 . Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadel. vol. xxviii, p. 355. This species is represented iu the collection by a number of trunk vertebras and atlases. Almost as many of the latter as of the former were obtained, a peculiarity that can be accounted for only by supposing that the stout, compact form of the atlas aided in saving it from breakage.

The trunk vertebrae, of which one of the best is figured, are biconcave, with well developed pre- and postzygapophyses, a backwardly directed, stout neural spine whose basal front extends forward as a prominent keel between the prezygapophyses. A number of foramina enter the spine in its upper half where it is seen to be hollow. The centrum is pinched or laterally compressed below, so as to produce a strong carination inferiorly, and an elongation of the articular cups downward. The uotochord is not persistent the foramince for its entry into the central body are conspicuous at the bottom of the articular cups. The diapophysis is directed outward and backward and has an irregular, figure 8 View Fig shaped, transverse section, as described by Cope. A foramen enters the base of the diapophysis from in front, another from behind and, on the right side of the vertebra figured, one also enters from below. In figure 4 View Fig the neural spine and the postzygapophyses are restored from a separate spine to the base of which the zygapophyses remain attached. In one of the larger vertebrse, the roof of the neural canal is angularly vaulted and the front border of the arch between the prezygapophyses is notched and turned slightly upward. Numerous small foramina occur in all parts of the vertebrae.

Three figures are given of one of the largest and best preserved atlases, to show the two facets for articulation with the occipital condyles of the skull, the anterior process projecting from the centrum between the two facets, and the articular cup behind. A number of foramina occur in the concave inferior stirface of the atlas. Other foramina occur as depicted.

Measurements.  
Of trunk vertebra: Length of centrum Height of articular cups, Breadth of same Diameter of notochordal foramen Antero-posterior diameter of neural spine measured from between postzygapophyses,, Of atlas: Extreme length Extreme breadth Height of facets for articulation with condyles of skull Breadth of same Height of articular cup Width of same ' M. 008 006 " 004 001 0035 007 0095 003 004 0037 003
Length of centrum 008
Height of articular cups, 006
Breadth of same " 004
Diameter of notochordal foramen 001
Antero-posterior diameter of neural spine measured from between postzygapophyses,, 0035
Of atlas:  
Extreme length 007
Extreme breadth 0095
Height of facets for articulation with condyles of skull 003
Breadth of same 004
Height of articular cup 0037
Width of same ' 003

Belly River series. Red Deer river, 1901 The position of this genus was not definitely determined, but its author considered that the structure of a proximal limb bone, and the form of the diapophyses of the vertebrae referred it with much probability to the Urodela , and that the biconcave centra placed it nearest to the Amblystomidae. Also that other structural points indicated a family different from any of those now living.

.

A small right maxilla of which, two views are given ( plate XV View PLATE XV , figs. 16 View FIG and 17) is of interest. It is almost perfect anteriorly. Its upper border comes to a sharp edge, from which posteriorly a small fragment has been broken off, as indicated in the figure. A ridge extends the length of the bone on the inner side at about mid-height at the centre but curving downward to near the lower margin in front. Posteriorly two sutural surfaces occur, one on the inner side in continuance of the ridge, the other emargiuates the upper border. Between these two surfaces the bone is shallowly excavated. Six large foramina occur in a line at about mid-height in the anterior half of the outer surface. The lower border of the maxilla is broad and bears eight subquadrately elliptical toothbases with their greater diameters transverse to the length of the jaw. Small foraminal openings occur encircling the outer surface of the tooth-bases. Teeth have been lost from the jaw leaving shallowly depressed interspaces.

The relationship of this bone is not clearly understood, but it is for the present associated with Scapherpeton tectum . It occurred with and is of the same colour and texture as the vertebrae of that species.

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Amphibia

Order

Caudata

Family

Scapherpetontidae

Genus

Scapherpeton

Loc

Scapherpeton tectum, Cope

Lambe L. M. 1902
1902
Loc

Scapherpeton tectum

Cope. 1876
1876
GBIF Dataset (for parent article) Darwin Core Archive (for parent article) View in SIBiLS Plain XML RDF