CLASS REPTILIA 



573 



Order Dinosauria. - - The DINOSAURIA were extremely large 

 reptiles that probably lived in swamps or in the neighborhood 

 of water during Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous times. Re- 

 mains have been found in America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and 

 Australia, and footprints have been discovered in the sandstone 

 of the Connecticut Valley. Some species measured over one 

 hundred feet in length. Both herbivorous and carnivorous forms 

 existed. 



Brontosaurus (Fig. 467, A) was about sixty feet long; was 

 herbivorous; and had four limbs about equally well developed. 

 Its remains have been found in Wyoming and Colorado. Steg- 

 osaurus (Fig. 467, B) reached a length of about twenty-eight 

 feet and was also herbivorous. It possessed huge triangular 

 plates along the back. Remains have been discovered in Wyo- 

 ming and Colorado. Ccratosaunis (Fig. 467, C) was a carnivorous 

 dinosaur with a comparatively large head. The character of its 

 skeleton indicates that it walked about on its hind limbs and 

 rested on its tail, much like a kangaroo. Remains have been 

 found in Colorado. 



Order Ichthyosauria. - - The ICIITIIVOSAURS (Fig. 468) were 

 fish-eating, aquatic reptiles. Their bodies were admirably 



FIG. 468. A fossil reptile, Ichthyosaurus communis. Caudal fin not shown. 

 (From Parker and Haswell, after Owen.) 



adapted for life in the water, and they have been called the 

 " whales " of the Mesozoic Era. The remains of ICHTHYOSAURS 

 occur in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. 



Order Pterosauria. - - The PTEROSAURIA were reptiles of the 

 Mesozoic Era which had the fore limbs modified for flight. They 

 resemble birds in certain skeletal characters, but differ from 



