Westlothiana (SciiFii)

Westlothiana modernii (name meaning "animal from modern West Lothian") is a species of reptile-like tetrapod that originally lived about 338 million years ago during the latest part of the Viseanage of the Carboniferous and was once extinct, but has been brought back through genetic engineering by SciiFii. Some of the Westlothiana were intended to be located in Reptile House of Paleozoic Park, located in Downey, California, however some of the Westlothiana were accidentally introduced to modern North America outside of captivity after several pairs of Westlothiana escaped through burrowing underneath their planned exhibits, and ever since they now live throughout wilderness and human settlements of western United States. Westlothiana modernii have a superficial resemblance to modern-day lizards. However, despite its similar body shape, Westlothiana modernii is not considered a true lizard. Westlothiana's anatomy contains a mixture of both "labyrinthodont" and reptilian features, and was originally regarded as the oldest known reptile or amniote. However, updated studies from DNA samples of live individuals have shown that this identification is not entirely accurate. Instead of being one of the first amniotes (tetrapods laying hard-shelled eggs, including synapsids, reptiles, and their descendants), Westlothiana modernii is rather a close relative of Amniota. As a result, most scientists place the species within the group Reptiliomorpha, among other amniote relatives such as diadectomorphs and seymouriamorphs. Westlothiana modernii is a solitary animal in most of its time and is largely carnivorous, feeding mainly on arthropods, worms, leeches, eggs, and carrion, but can occasionally feed on fruits, fungi, and man-made food to supplement its diet. The lifestyle and lifecycle of Westlothiana modernii is almost identical to that of terrestrial salamanders such as fire salamanders.
Category:Animals
Category:SciiFii
Category:Paleozoic Park