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Champsosaurus Cope ED 1876
No full textCHAMPSOSAURUS, Cope. Genus novum. Vertebrae of more than a hundred individuals referable to several species. which I obtained from the Judith River beds of the Upper Missouri region. present characters which demand the establishment of a new genus for their reception. The characters presented by the vertebral column are the following: The ribs have a single head, which articulates with a prominent tuberculum. excepting those of the cervical vertebra. On these there is a small capitular tubercle below the diapophysis. lt commences very small and inferior in position. being removed, in fact, but a short distance from the inferior middle line in the first vertebra in which it appears. It rises rapidly in the succecding centra until it is merged in the tuberculum of the diapophysis. The latter projects from the neural arch, which is free from lhe centrum, but in none does the base of the diapophysis rise from a point above the floor of the neural canal. On the dorsals it is vertically compressed. One of the anterior cervicais, probably the axis, is obliquely truncated below its anterior articular face, for a free hypopophysis or os odontoideum. This vertebra has no parapophysis, and the articular faces for the neuropophysis are superior. The few vertebrae in each of several series, probably from the sacral region. are more depressed than the others, and the facets fur the diapophyses present a greater antero-posterior extent, but none are coössified. The caudal vertebrae are distally quite compressed. In all, except the anterior ones, the neural arch is coössified with the centrum. and in such there are no diapophyses. In those with free neural arch, the facets for the neuropophyses turn down on the sides of the centrum. The articular extremities of the centra are plane, those of the caudal series slightly concave. There are no hypapophyses behind the axis, excepting a longitudinal carina, which ceases to exist on the dorsal vertebrae. The zygapophyses are simple. The chevron bones are free. The relations of the atlas and axis, though not fully elucidated by my specimens, are peculiar. The former has separate neurapophyses, which have nearly the shape of those of the Streptostylicate Reptilia, resembling much those of the Pythonomorpha. Although I procured numerous cervical vertebrae, there are but few which exhibit the antero-inferior facet for supposed hypapophysis, already described. The position of this vertebra was in front of the first cervical which displays: a parapophysis, and is, on this account, likely to be the axis or the third cervical vertebra. It is the more probably the axis, as there is no other among the large number of vertebrae in my collection which can he referred to that position. Its anterior articular face is smooth and like the posterior, showing that the odontoid bone was not coössified with it. Now in the Crocodilia the odontoid bone is united with the anterior extremity of the axis by suture, which may become coössified with age, while the free hypapophysis is wanting. In the streptostylicate orders the hypapophysis is present, and the odontoid is above it, but united to the axis by suture. On the other hand, in the Rhynchocephalia, the axis is coössified with both odontoid and hypapophysis, and a few succeeding vertebrae possess free hypapophyses. Thus it is possible that I am yet unacquainted with the axis of Champsosaurus. One entire rib and the heads of several others are all that were obtained. The former is from the anterior part of the dorsal series, and is stout and short. The head is truncate and compressed, its articular face is contracted, forming a narrow figure eight. The shaft is obliquely flattened. The extremities are separated from the lateral surfaces by a narrow angle, as though capped with cartilage in life, as in the Pythonomorpha. Bones of the extremities are very rare. One fragment resembles the proximal end of a crocodilian tibia, and another is like the distal half or more of the tibia of the same type. There is considerable resemblance between the vertebrae of this genus and those of Hyposaurus, Ow., from Cretaceous No. 5, of New Jersey, but the relations of the axis and atlas in that genus are as in other Crocodilia, and not like those seen iChampsosaurus . The absence of sacrum precludes the possibility of regarding this form as dinosaurian. It rather seems to share some rhynchocephalian characters with general amphiplatyan crocodilian resemblances. The shortness and robustness of the thoracic ribs is a feature quite unique, and reminds one of the Batrachia. The teeth are unknown in their true relations, but there are several types in the collections which may be found to belong here. These are of the rhizodont character. As a summary of the preceding, I propose to refer the genus Champsosaurus to the order Rhynchocephalia, provisionally. It differs very much from the typical genus of that order, Sphenodon, in the non-coössification of the sacral vertebrae, and non-union of the neural arches of the vertebra: with their centra, and the absence of the chordal perforation of the latter. It diifers from the extinet genera. Clepsydrops and Cricotus, Cope, in the last mentioned two characters. Ou these grounds it may constitute a distinct suborder, under the name of Choristodera. It is possible that the tooth, which I referred to anew genus and species, under the name of Paronychodon lacustris (Proeeedings Academy, 1876, October), may belong to one of those of the present genus. In that case the older generic name takes precedence of the later. I may add that some vertebrae of this genus have been figured and described by Dr. Leidy in the Transactions of the American Philos. Society, 1860, without name. I recognize four species among the vertebrae, chiefly by characters observed in the cervical region. There is a great discrepancy of size among them, and the small ones may be immature.Published as part of Cope, E. D., 1876, On some extinct reptiles and batrachia from the Judith River and Fox Hills beds of Montana, pp. 340-359 in Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 28 on pages 348-350, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.336836
Scapherpeton Cope ED 1876
No full textSCAPHERPETON, Cope. Genus novum Batrachiarum. Vertebrae deeply biconcave, with opposed, but not continuous, foramina for the chorda dorsalis. Neural arch with zygapophyses, and well-developed neural spine. Centrum with vertically compressed, short diapophysis near the posterior extremity, a prominent hypapophysial keel, and prolonged neural spine. Supposed proximal limb bone with a branch-like trochanter. Supposed teeth in several rows, attached in shallow alveoli, those of the marginal series larger; the crowns obtusely conic and simple. In the above diagnosis are expressed the general characters of a genus of probably tailed Batrachia which has left remains of several species in the Judith River beds of the Upper Missouri region. Although the vertebrae resemble no little those of clepsydrops, Cope, a rhynchocephalian lizard from supposed triassic or permian formations, the atlas is that of a batrachian. The limb bone probably belonging to it, is unlike that of any genus of the Proteida or Trachystomata, differing also from that of Menopoma, but approaching nearly that of the typical salamanders. The diapophyses are different in form from those of the Trachystomata Proteida and Amphiumidae, but resemble in their vertical compression those of Menopoma. They are generally broken in the specimens, but where preserved, are much shorter than in that genus, being even less produced than in most of the recent salamanders. The prominent keel of the median line below is not found in salamanders, and it has no posterior prolongation resembling the structure seen in Amphiuma and Caeciliidae. The produced neural spine is a character not found among tailed Batrachia, and the posterior direction which it takes reminds one of the Dinosauria more than anything else, and is not like the form seen in Lacertilia. It is a prolongation of the roof-like extension of the neural arch seen in some of the tertiary salamanders of France. The structure of the proximal limb bone, and the form of the diapophyses of the vertebrae refer this genus with much probability to the Urodela. The produced neural arch, and the probably complex disposition of the teeth, indicate a family different from any of those now living. The biconcave centra place it nearest to the Amblystomidae. The teeth above mentioned are attached to a fragment of a jaw-bone. The crowns are all imperfect, and mostly broken off. There are three series of smaller teeth and a marginal series of teeth of one hall‘ greater diameter. They exhibit a moderate pulp cavity, and the superficial investment of the crowns is not inflected. lt has a minute granular rugosity, and the bases of the teeth are rugose with impressed punctae. The teeth are described here because it is not known to which species they belong. It is, indeed, not certain, but only probable, that they belong to this genus. Four atlases preserved indicate two species; one being more depressed than the other three, and the anterior cotyli therefore more transverse. The vertebrae indicate four species. It is probable that they present some pecularities at different points in the same column, the caudals at least differing in some degree from the others. The characters of the species are quite well marked.Published as part of Cope, E. D., 1876, On some extinct reptiles and batrachia from the Judith River and Fox Hills beds of Montana, pp. 340-359 in Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 28 on pages 353-355, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.336836
Uronautes Cope
No full textURONAUTES Cope. Genus novum Sauropterygiarum. Cervical vertebrae, like the dorsals and caudals, short and transverse. and distinct from each other. Neural arches and transverse processes coössified at maturity. Transverse processes of the cervicals simple and depressed. Extremities plesiosauroid. This genus might be referred to Polycotylus, Cope, were it not for the distinctness and greater abbreviation of the cervical vertebrae. From Cimoliasaurus, Leidy, it differs in the eoössificntion of the caudal diapophyses and the much greater abbreviation of the cervical vertebrae. The centra are amphiplatyan in Cimoliasaurus, biconcave in Uronautes. From Pliosaurus, Owen, which resembles the present form in the shortness of the cervical vertebrae, the coössified transverse processes of the cervicals separate it. The present is pre-eminently a short-necked genus of the order. The remains on which it reposes are the cervical, dorsal, and caudal vertebrae, with portions of limb and rib bones.Published as part of Cope, E. D., 1876, On some extinct reptiles and batrachia from the Judith River and Fox Hills beds of Montana, pp. 340-359 in Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 28 on page 345, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.336836
Champsosaurus annectens Cope ED 1876, sp. nov
No full textChamposaurus annectens, Cope, sp. nov. The greater number of vertebrae obtained belong to this saurian, which may therefore be looked upon as the type of the genus. The cervical which bears the hypapophysial facet presents a carina below, which is only prominent between the articular faces. One such cervical in the collection is rounded below, aud may be anterior in the series, or may belong to another species. The inferior keel is strong on the other cervicais, hut soon disappears on the anterior dorsals. The remaining centra are rounded below . The parapophyses where present are knob-like, aud the corresponding part of the transverse process is similar in the anterior dorsal vertebrae. The base of the neural arch is nearer the anterior than the posterior articular face. These faces are nearly round in the anterior caudal central, but soon become vertical ovals, with the compressed form. There is a fossa below and in front of the parapophysis, which continues to beyond the anterior dorsals. The dense layer of the surface of the centrum is smooth, except some delicate striations near the articular borders. These are most marked along the median interior face of the caudal vertebrae, which is flat, grooved, and distally acute. I cannot certainly connect the vertebrae of a series as those of a single individual. [table omitted] [table omitted] A vertebra not distinguishable from the corresponding one of this species was found near Amell's Creek, on a bank of deposit of the Fox Hills group (No. 5), with the bones of the Uronautes cetiformis, supra. l cannot account for this circumstances, as it is the most abundant fossil of the Judith River beds (No. 6).Published as part of Cope, E. D., 1876, On some extinct reptiles and batrachia from the Judith River and Fox Hills beds of Montana, pp. 340-359 in Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 28 on pages 351-352, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.336836
Op-ed piece by Ed King describing the author\u27s visit to a University of Maine co
No full textOp-ed piece by Ed King describing the author\u27s visit to a University of Maine conference called Reading Stephen King: Issues of Choice, Censorship, and the Place of Popular Literature in the Canon. Ed King\u27s fellow attendees stopped talking to him after he admitted that he had never read any of Stephen King\u27s books and was only planning to write about how much money Stephen King makes
Author Ed McBain Book Signing
No full textAuthor Ed McBain hosts a book signing at the Bradenton Area Convention Cente
Op-Ed piece explaining why the author joined Carolyn Chute\u27s Second Maine Militi
No full textOp-Ed piece explaining why the author joined Carolyn Chute\u27s Second Maine Militia and describing the first meeting
T. Cope, ed., Izibongo. Zulu praise poems
No full textSmith Pierre. T. Cope, ed., Izibongo. Zulu praise poems. In: L'Homme, 1969, tome 9 n°1. p. 105
Scapherpeton excisum Cope ED 1876, sp. nov.
No full textScapherpeton excisum, sp. nov. This salamander is represented in the collection of the expedition hy vertebrae of three individuals of different sizes. They all agree in having the anterior zygapophyses separated by the concave excavation of the roof of the neural canal usual in ordinary salamanders, and in the moderate development of the hypapophysial keel. As a result, the articular extremities of the centra are not produced so far inferiorly as in S. laticolle. The longitudinal ridge from the inferior part of the diapophysis is pronounced, and separates a deep fossa above it from another below it. The longitudinal perforation of the base of the diapophysis issues in the superior fossa. while in the two smaller specimens a vertical perforation joins it from the inferior fossa. As in the preceding two species, one articular face is a little deeper than the other. [table omitted] Specimen No. 1 is as large as the corresponding portion of an Amphiuma means.Published as part of Cope, E. D., 1876, On some extinct reptiles and batrachia from the Judith River and Fox Hills beds of Montana, pp. 340-359 in Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 28 on page 357, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.336836
Champsosaurus brevicollis Cope ED 1876, sp. nov.
No full textChamposaurus brevicollis, sp. nov. On one occasion the writer discovered a number of vertebrae of this genus close together, and such relation as to induce the belief that some of them belonged to the same individual. Parts of several were obtained, however, adding another evidence of the manner in which the fossils of this formation have been dislocated and scattered. The evidence for the existence of this species must be allowed to rest at present on a cervical vertebra, with free hypapophysis. This body differs from the corresponding one in the C. annectens in its greater brevity as compared with its length. The vertical and transverse diameters exceed the longitudinal in the C. brevicollis, while in the C. annectens the length exceeds both. The inferior aspect of this centrum is broadly rounded, not carinate as in C. annectens. The value of this character is uncertain, but a Centrum similarly rounded below (above alluded to) has the more elongate form of the C annectens.Published as part of Cope, E. D., 1876, On some extinct reptiles and batrachia from the Judith River and Fox Hills beds of Montana, pp. 340-359 in Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 28 on page 352, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.336836
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