Mesosaurus

== Summary ==
Mesosaurus is a species of Parareptilian that lived around 299-271 million years ago during the early Permian period.Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2014, April 9). Mesosaurus. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/animal/Mesosaurus It's name from Greek and means "middle lizard." One of the earliest reptiles to return to a semi aquatic lifestyle, it likely was similar in behavior to modern marine iguanas. It dwelled in freshwater environments such as rivers, lakes and ponds, along with some hypersaline environments,Piñeiro, G.; Ramos, A.; Goso, C.; Scarabino, F.; Laurin, M. (2012). "Unusual environmental conditions preserve a Permian mesosaur-bearing Konservat-Lagerstätte from Uruguay". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 57 (2): 299–318. doi:10.4202/app.2010.0113. with the pachyostosis helping it maintain Neutral Buoyancy, while the structure of its ribs likely helped it to dive. Along with these adaptations, it is evidenced to give birth to live young.Piñeiro, G.; Ferigolo, J.; Meneghel, M.; Laurin, M. (2012). "The oldest known amniotic embryos suggest viviparity in mesosaurs". Historical Biology. 24 (6): 620–630. Bibcode:2012HBio...24..620P. doi:10.1080/08912963.2012.662230. S2CID 59475679
It inhibited throughout eastern South America to South Africa. Along with its significance in the study of reptile evolution, its discovery was one of the key examples to the theory of continental drift. This is made clear due to its geographic range, hinting that South America and Africa were linked by the supercontinent Gondwana, as the creature would not survive travel through long expanses of ocean.
== Powers and Stats ==
Tier: , higher via piercing damage
Name: Mesosaurus, Mesosaurus tenuidens, Mesosaurus brasiliensis (synonym), Ditrochosaurus capensis (synonym), Mesosaurus capensis (synonym)
Origin: The Real World
Gender: Varies with specimen
Age: Varies
Classification: Reptile, Parareptilian, Mesosauridae, anapsid
Powers and Abilities: Bodily Weaponry (Teeth), Small Size (Type 0; could grow to 1 meter long), Enhanced Senses
Attack Potency: Below Average Human level (Mostly hunted small creatures such as nektonic crustaceansModesto, S.P. (2006). "The cranial skeleton of the Early Permian aquatic reptile Mesosaurus tenuidens: implications for relationships and palaeobiology". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 146 (3): 345–368. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2006.00205.x. and fish) higher via piercing damage
Speed: Below Average Human (Mesosaurids' optimal swimming speeds were low, at 0.15-0.86 m/s, adapted for catching slow moving animals such as pygocephalomorphs.Villamil, Joaquín & Núñez Demarco, Pablo & Meneghel, Melitta & Blanco, R. & Jones, Washington & Rinderknecht, Andrés & Laurin, Michel & Piñeiro, Graciela. (2015). Optimal swimming speed estimates in the Early Permian mesosaurid Mesosaurus tenuidens (Gervais 1865) from Uruguay. Historical Biology. 28. 10.1080/08912963.2015.1075018. Would likely have been slow-moving on land as well, pushing itself along the ground like a sea turtle.Modesto, S.P. (2010). "The postcranial skeleton of the aquatic parareptile Mesosaurus tenuidens from the Gondwanan Permian". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 30 (5): 1378–1395. Bibcode:2010JVPal..30.1378M. doi:10.1080/02724634.2010.501443. S2CID 131561248)
Lifting Strength: Below Average Human (Is 10-20 lbs, or about 4.5-9 kg)
Striking Strength: Below Average Human level
Durability: Below Average Human level
Stamina: Unknown
Range: Below Standard Melee Range
Standard Equipment: Teeth
Intelligence: Animalistic
Weaknesses: Was small, making it vulnerable to larger predators. Was likely not very maneuverable on land.Pablo Nuñez Demarco et al. Was Mesosaurus a Fully Aquatic Reptile? Front. Ecol. Evol, published online July 27, 2018; doi:10.3389/fevo.2018.00109
== Gallery ==
Mesosaurus1.webp
Marine-science-mesosaur-lifestyle.jpg
Mesosaurus tenuidens 1.jpg|Skeleton of Mesosaurus
Brennobenk-2.jpg|Art by Brennobenk on Artstation
== Notable Matchups ==
Victories:
Losses:
Inconclusive:
==References==
Category:Real World
Category:Animals
Category:Reptiles
Category:Paleozoic Era
Category:Permian Period
Category:Bodily Weaponry Users
Category:Enhanced Senses Users
Category:Small Sized Characters
Category:Characters