Coelurosauravus

Coelurosauravus
Temporal range: Lopingian
~260.4–251 Ma
Skull reconstruction
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Family: Weigeltisauridae
Genus: Coelurosauravus
Piveteau 1926
Type species
Coelurosauravus elivensis
Piveteau, 1926
Synonyms
  • Daedalosaurus madagascariensis Carroll 1978

Coelurosauravus (meaning "hollow lizard grandfather") is an extinct genus of gliding reptile, known from the Late Permian of Madagascar. Like other members of the family Weigeltisauridae, members of this genus possessed long, rod-like ossifications projecting outwards from the body. These bony rods were not extensions of the ribs but were instead a feature unique to weigeltisaurids. It is believed that during life, these structures formed folding wings used for gliding flight, similar to living gliding Draco lizards.[1]

Coelurosauravus is solely known from the type species, C. elivensis, which was named by Jean Piveteau in 1926 based on fossils from the Lower Sakamena Formation of Madagascar. The species Weigeltisaurus jaekeli from Europe was formerly considered a species of Coelurosauravus, but is now placed in its own genus.

  1. ^ Evans, Susan E.; Haubold, Hartmut (1 July 1987). "A review of the Upper Permian genera Coelurosauravus, Weigeltisaurus and Gracilisaurus (Reptilia: Diapsida)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 90 (3): 275–303. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1987.tb01356.x. ISSN 0024-4082.