THE TRIASSIC PERIOD 



693 



tion of the dinosaurs (terrible saurians), the reigning reptilian 

 dynasty of the era. They were at first of generalized types, but 



Fig. 470. Oudenodon trigoniceps; an anamodont (or dicynodont) from the 

 Karoo formation of South Africa, so similar to forms of the Trias in 

 Wyoming as to be distinguished from them with difficulty. (After 

 Broom.) 



Fig. 471. A Triassic dinosaur of the Connecticut Valley, Anchisaurus 

 colurus, restored by Marsh, 1-30 natural size. 



later became more specialized, and diverged widely. While some 

 were small and delicate in structure, others were gigantic and un- 

 gainly. Carnivorous forms only (Theropoda) are known in the 



