Varanosaurus
Varanosaurus ('monitor lizard') is an extinct genus of early pelycosaur synapsid that lived during the Kungurian. Description. As its name implies, "Varanosaurus" may have looked superficially similar to present-day monitor lizards, though not related at all. "Varanosaurus" had a flattened, elongated skull and a pointed snout with a row of sharp teeth, including two pairs of conspicuous pseudocanines, implying that it was an active predator. "Varanosaurus" probably lived in swamps, competing with the larger "Ophiacodon" for food. Classification. Below is a cladogram modified from the analysis of Benson (2012):