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Seymouria

Seymouria Fossil range: Early Permian
Seymouria baylorensis, from the Early Permian of North America
Scientific classification
Order:	Seymouriamorpha
Family:	Seymouriidae
Genus:	Seymouria Broili, 1904
Species:	S. baylorensis (type) S. sanjuanensis S. grandis S. agilis

Seymouria was a reptile-like tetrapod from the early Permian of North America and Europe. It was small, only 2 ft (60 cm) long. Seymouria was well adapted to life on land, with many reptilian features--so many, in fact, that it was first thought to be a primitive reptile.

Description Edit

The dry climate of the Permian suited reptiles better than amphibians and other more primitive tetrapods, but Seymouria had many reptilian features that helped it in this harsh environment. It had long and muscular legs, and may have had dry skin and the ability to conserve water. It may have been able to excrete excess salt from its blood through a gland in its nose, like modern reptiles. All of this meant that Seymouria, unlike amphibians and other early tetrapods, might have lived for extended periods of time away from water. If so, this would have allowed it to move about the landscape in search of insects, small amphibians, and other possible preys, such as the eggs of reptiles.

Male Seymouria had thick skulls that may have been used to batter rivals in mating contests. After mating, the females would have had to return to water to lay their eggs. As in amphibians, the larvae would develop in water, hunting for worms and insects until they were strong enough to live on land. While no larvae are known from Seymouria itself, fossil larvae of other species in the order Seymouriamorpha have been found, with impressions of external gill structures as in some amphibians.

Fossils of Seymouria were first found in Seymour, Baylor County, Texas (hence the name of the type species, Seymouria baylorensis, or "Baylor County Seymour one"). Over the years, many well preserved fossils have been found in North America and Germany, including the "Tambach Lovers", two individuals of S. sanjuanensis fossilized lying next to each other (though of course it cannot be determined whether they really were a couple killed during mating).