Protorosaurus Fossil range: 260–251 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N Late Permian
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Sauropsida
Infraclass:	Archosauromorpha
Order:	Prolacertiformes
Family:	Protorosauridae Lydekker, 1888
Genus:	Protorosaurus
Binomial name
Protorosaurus speneri von Meyer, 1830

Protorosaurus ("first lizard") , a lizard-like reptile of the order Prolacertiformes, is the earliest known archosauromorph. It lived during the Late Permian period in Germany.

Protorosaurus speneri skeleton

In 1914, a new ceratopsian dinosaur found by Lawrence Lambe was again given the name Protorosaurus (in this sense meaning "before Torosaurus"). When Lambe found that the name had already been used for the early archosauromorph, he re-named his ceratopsian to Chasmosaurus.

In Geopark of Paleorrota, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, were found 3 vertebrae and some bones of the animal.

Protorosaurus grew up to 2 metres (6.6 ft) in length, and was a slender, lizard-like animal, with long legs and a long neck. Its body form suggests that it was fast-moving, although it may have fed primarily on insects.^[1]

[edit] References

• Protorossaurus.
• Protorosauro.

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