Prolacerta broomi is a small prolacertiform from the southern portion of Pangea, what will one day become South Africa.  This little insectivore is very similar to the basal archosaur, Protosuchus (Peters) and, indeed, has a similar lifestyle to this ancient progenitor.

    P. broomi is small insectivore, the kind of unspecialized opportunist that may evolve in many directions.  P. broomi's descendants will diversify across many niches, including swimmers, climbers, and most famously, fliers. By the late Triassic, the prolacertiforms will give rise to the most successful flying group of the Mesozoic, the pterosaurs.

Other sites containing pertinent information:

• Prolacerta broomi description is included in a list of Diapsida (perform a search on the page).
•  Transitional Vertebrate Fossils FAQ (David Peter's skeletal reconstruction---text is Chinese)
  

  © Daniel Bensen 2002
Back to OPUS: Dinosaur