XOTHOSAFRID^. 2?i 



Family XOTHOSAURID.E. 



The skull long or short, with the pterygoids either diverging 

 posteriorly, or developing alee overlying the basicranial axis and 

 meeting in the middle line (fig. 83) ; no infraorbital foramen on 

 the palate. Anterior pectoral vertebrae with the upper costal arti- 

 culation on the arch and the lower on the centrum ; cervicals with 

 double costal facets ; dorsals usually with very short transverse 

 processes, having vertically elongated articular surfaces. Scapula 

 with small ventral (precoracoidal) plate ; coracoids with short median 

 symphysis, and a notch in glenoidal border (fig. 82) ; omosternal 

 bar slender. Pubis with foramen ; obturator notch opeD. Humerus 

 and femur elongated ; the former only slightly expanded distally, 

 and with ectepicondylar groove ; terminal phalangeals clawed. 

 Apparently of terrestrial habits. 



Genus PISTOSAURUS, Meyer'. 



Skull with the preorbital portion longer than the postorbital, and 

 forming a narrow rostrum gradually narrowing towards the orbit ; 

 alee of pterygoids not uniting beneath the basisphenoid ; upper 

 teeth not numerous, the second and third maxillary being somewhat 

 enlarged. The dorsal vertebrae, figured by Meyer in the ' Saurier des 

 Muschelkalk,' pi. xxvi. figs. 1-6, and provisionally referred to this 

 genus, differ from those of the next genus by their longer transverse 

 processes. The base of the skull is more like that of the Phsio- 

 gauridcB than is that of Nothosaums, and it is therefore quite pro- 

 bable that the vertebrae were likewise more like those of the former 

 family. 



Pistosaurus longaevus, Meyer 2 . 



The type and only described species; somewhat smaller than 

 Noihosaurus mirabilis. The parietal foramen is remarkable for it a 

 great size, and there are 19 upper teeth. 



Hob. Europe (Germany). 



R. 19736. Cast of the cranium. The original was obtained in 1843 

 from the Muschelkalk of Baireuth, Bavaria, and is pre- 

 served in the Museum at Berlin. It is described by Meyer 

 in the ' Neuea Jahrb.' 1843, p. 587, and described and 

 figured in his 'Saurier des Muschelkalk,' p. 23, pi. xxi. 

 figs. 1-3. In the figure of the palatal aspect the occipital 

 condyle has been introduced. Purchased, I 



1 tfeues Jahrb. 1839, i». «'»'.''.'. 



