Article: A re-evaluation of small tetrapods from the Middle Triassic Otter Sandstone Formation of Devon, England
Publication: Palaeontology
Volume:
45
Part:
3
Publication Date:
May
2002
Page(s):
447
–
467
Author(s):
Patrick S. Spencer and Glenn W. Storrs
Abstract
Material of small sauropsids from the Otter Sandstone Formation of east Devon (Sherwood Sandstone Group; Middle Triassic; Anisian) includes remains that were formerly attributed to a primitive procolophonid. In the light of new specimens, this material is instead found to contain remains of a diapsid and a procolophonine procolophonid. Among these fossils, the medium-sized procolophonine, Kapes bentoni sp. nov., is the first record of this Russian genus in the British Triassic. Coartaredens isaaci gen. et sp. nov. is a small diapsid tentatively assigned to Lepidosauromorpha. The heterodont lower dentition of Coartaredens comprises a row of large, conical posterior teeth and tightly packed, procumbent incisiforms. Two additional specimens are distinguished on the basis of distinctive dentary remains. One of these is of possible procolophonid affinity, while the dentition of the second resembles that of the aberrant Early Triassic parareptilian genus Sclerosaurus.