Austropelor is an extinct genus of possible chigutisaurid temnospondyl from the Early Jurassic (Lower Pliensbachian stage) of Australia. Fossil remains were found in the Marburg Sandstone Formation.[1]
| Austropelor Temporal range: Lower Pliensbachian
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| Genus: | †Austropelor Longman, 1941
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| Species: | †A. wadleyi
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| †Austropelor wadleyi Longman, 1941
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Description edit
The Austropelor holotype consists of three conjoined pieces (-100 mm) with alveoli lacking teeth, representing a segment of a left mandibular ramus with clear amphibian characters.[2] Affinities of the genus indicate a relationship with brachyopoids as well as, possibly, with Metoposaurs.[2]
History edit
Austropelor was originally described from part of a right maxilla, yet the holotype, No. F2628, seems more likely to be a left amphibian mandible.[2] This genus was controversial at the time of the original description, as it was the only Jurassic labyrinthodont known until the description of Siderops. After the original paper, the Marburg Sandstone Formation was regarded as of Late Triassic age, with the overlying Walloon Coal Measures of possible lower Jurassic age.[3] Yet was later interpreted as Lower Jurassic in age, likely "Middle Liassic" (=Pliensbachian).[2]
References edit
- ^ Longman, H. A. (1941). "A Queensland fossil amphibian". Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. 12 (1): 29–32.
- ^ a b c d Colbert, E. H. (1967). "A new interpretation of Austropelor, a supposed Jurassic labyrinthodont amphibian from Queensland". Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. 15 (1): 35–41. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ^ Whitehouse, F. W. (1955). "The Geology of the Queensland portion of the Great Australian Artesian Basin". Queensland Parliamentary Papers. 2 (2): 653–676.
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