Scapherpeton tectum Cope
Creators: name: Lambe L., M.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 1902
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Amphibia
Caudata
Scapherpetontidae
Scapherpeton
Scapherpeton tectum

description: Scapherpeton tectum, Cope Plate III, <i>figs</i>. 4-8. . <i>Scapherpeton</i> <i>tectum</i>, Cope. 1876. Proc. Acad. <i>Nat</i>. Sci. Philadel. <i>vol</i>. xxviii, p. 355. This <i>species</i> 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 <i>supposing</i> that the stout, compact form of the atlas aided in <i>saving</i> 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 <i>at</i> the bottom of the articular cups. The diapophysis is directed outward and backward and has an irregular, <i>figure</i> 8 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 <i>figured</i>, one also enters from below. In <i>figure</i> 4 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 <i>larger</i> 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. <i>Three</i> figures are given of one of the <i>largest</i> and best preserved atlases, to show the two <i>facets</i> 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. [table omitted] Belly <i>River</i> 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 <i>it</i> with much probability to the <i>Urodela</i>, 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 <i>XV</i>, figs. 16 and 17) <i>is</i> of interest. It is almost perfect anteriorly. <i>Its</i> upper border comes to a sharp edge, from which posteriorly a small fragment has been broken <i>off</i>, as indicated in the <i>figure</i>. <i>A</i> ridge extends the <i>length</i> of the bone on the inner side at about mid-height at the centre but <i>curving</i> downward to near the lower margin in front. Posteriorly two sutural <i>surfaces</i> 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. <i>Six large</i> foramina occur in a line at about mid-height in the anterior half of the outer surface. <i>The</i> 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 <i>it</i> is for the present associated with <i>Scapherpeton tectum</i>. It occurred with and is of the same colour and texture as the vertebrae of that species.
description: Published as part of <i>Lambe L. M., 1902, New genera and species from the Belly River Series (mid-Cretaceous), pp. 25-81 in Geological Survey of Canada Contributions to Canadian Palaeontology 3</i> on pages 31-32, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3233762