Icarosaurus

Icarosaurus
Temporal range: Late Triassic, Norian
Fossil of Icarosaurus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Family: †Kuehneosauridae
Genus: †Icarosaurus
Colbert, 1966
Type species
†Icarosaurus siefkeri
Colbert, 1966

Icarosaurus (meaning "Icarus lizard") is an extinct genus of kuehneosaurid reptile from the Late Triassic (Norian age) Lower Lockatong Formation of New Jersey.[1] It is closely related to lizards and the tuatara. Based on a partial skeleton missing part of the tail, some ribs, a hand, and parts of the legs, it was a small animal, about 10 centimeters (4 in) long from the skull to the hips. Like its relative Kuehneosaurus, it was able to glide short distances using 'wings' consisting of highly elongated ribs covered with skin. These gliding membranes would have had a convex upper surface and a concave lower surface, thus creating a simple airfoil structure well-suited to gliding.[2][3][4] This method of gliding is also seen in Coelurosauravus and the modern Draco, neither of which are closely related to Icarosaurus.

  1. ^ Berg, T.M., et al. (1983). Stratigraphic Correlation Chart of Pennsylvania: G75, Pennsylvania Geologic Survey, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference ley196112 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Colbert, Edwin H. (1966). "A gliding reptile from the Triassic of New Jersey" (PDF). American Museum Novitates (3282): 1–23. Retrieved 2007-08-01.
  4. ^ Colbert, Edwin H. (1970). "The Triassic gliding reptile Icarosaurus" (PDF). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 143 (2): 1–142.