THE REPTILES OF THE KARROO FORMATION 253 



one of the most primitive reptiles known. The skull 

 has the temporal region roofed, acrodont teeth on the 

 jaws, and small teeth on the prevomers. The shoulder 

 girdle has a large precoracoid, and the number of joints 

 in the digits are 2, 3, 4, 5, t 3-4. Abdominal ribs are 

 present. Another very interesting reptile called Prote- 

 rosuchus is only known by an imperfect skull. The 

 head is long and pointed and nearly a foot in length. 



FIG. 18. Skull of Bauria Cynops, Broom. Length of skull about 5 in. 



The structure of the palate shows that it is allied to the 

 Rhynchocephalians, but it seems to be specialised along 

 the line which gave rise to the primitive crocodiles and 

 Dinosaurs. Still another interesting genus found in the 

 same formation is a small true lizard called Paliguana. 

 It is only known by the skull which is almost perfect 

 and shows clearly that the quadrate was large and free 

 as in modern lizards. This is the oldest known lizard 

 and the only one at present known from Triassic beds 

 though they have long been known from the Jurassic. 

 In the succeeding beds, which are the highest of the 



