genus prehistoric fossils animal found southern germany dated stage period million years ago described years discovery locality lived region comes greek frog cutting refers large contrast reptiles like large superiority erect stance remarkable feature seen row paired flattened bony plates possibly early relative lived dawn description heavily built large reaching metres length trait characterized compared series paired small plates attached bony deposits forming scales called flattened leaf shaped extended head column reducing size ended tail evidence present ventral region tail seen flank belly limbs like walked erect posture limbs located directly trunk limbs equal length toe bones poorly preserved known bone fifth bone attached toe bones hooked shape suggest probably toes tall narrow skull estimated length pairs skull openings pairs eyes called nostrils temporal holes probably helped reduce weight skull enabled jaw open widely typical nostrils fifth pair small openings rear lower jaw jaws contained sharp teeth compressed unequal size shape variation tooth shape known teeth bones tip upper jaw slender unlike main tooth bearing bones upper jaw straight posterior edge upper jaw bore teeth carrying teeth lower jaw held teeth discovery history remains found southern germany mainly fossil locality northern fossil collector discovered specimens excavation dated late age remains attributed collected east notable represented preserved ribs evidence today displayed fossils recovered remained referred genus simply described excavation largest specimen genus comprised incomplete skull materials anatomy years later light evolutionary relationships poorly known group reported detailed reconstruction skeleton time classification member family larger group family established american reptiles medium large size characterized erect posture large narrow skull large openings attention brought belonged family clade reptiles species description revisited analysis showing close relationships led transfer family revised classification basal comprehensive phylogenetic analysis group date found non members clade recovered basal found derived closely related clade containing subsequent derivatives analysis support hypothesis formally published revision medium sized long upper recovered sister taxon derivative analysis follows analysis rich fauna found reflect moist region germany recovered remains fishes amphibians animals like distinct marine flora locality consisted conifers suggesting rich vegetation
Batrachotomus