Pariasaurus. 
61 
Pariasaurus serridens was obtained by Mr. Bain from the 
reptiliferons Triassic sandstone near the Winterberg, Cape 
Colony. The teeth are close-set, in an alveolar groove ; they 
resemble those of the Iguanodon in their mode of implantation, 
and those of the Scelidosaurus in their close arrangement and 
nearly uniform wear. The degree of abrasion indicates, as in 
the Iguanodon , that they were applied to the mastication of 
vegetable substances. 
Fifteen or sixteen teeth are closely set on each side of both 
the upper and lower jaws. As in man, there is no diastema in 
the dental series, no one tooth is longer than the rest. But 
there is still greater uniformity in the teeth of this ancient 
reptile. There is absolutely no character by which to separate 
the incisors, or canines, or false or true molars. All the teeth 
are equally worn, and show by their abraded border that they 
have taken an equal share in the pounding as well as the crop- 
ping of the vegetable food upon which it subsisted (Owen). 
The animal measures fully nine feet in length, and the 
shape of its skull and jaws are remarkably like those of the 
Batrachia.* 
This fine example of the skeleton of Pariasaurus is exhibited 
in a glass-case (marked zz), at the west-end of Gallery, No. 4.* 
In addition to the sculpture on the bones of the skull 
mucous canals, like those of the Labyrintliodonts, are also 
present. Vomerine teeth have also been observed. 
Professor Seeley concludes that. this very remarkable and 
Amphibian-like reptile is a direct descendant from the Laby- 
rinthodonts ; the chief affinities to that group being displayed 
in the characters of the skull, in the notochordal canal, and the 
large arches of the vertebrae, in the support of the pelvis by a 
single vertebra, as well as in the characters of the pectoral and 
pelvic girdles. The latter features, together with the general 
structure of the palate, being identical with those of typical 
Anomodonts, there appears every reason for referring this 
family to a sub-order of that group. 
Gallery, 
No. 4. 
Pariasau- 
rus. 
Glass-case, 
zz. 
Wall-case, 
No. 7. 
* Other even more perfect remains of this genus have been quite 
recently obtained by Prof. H. G. Seeley, F.E.S., during a visit to the Cape 
Colony to study the Reptiliferons deposits of South Africa. They are now 
(1890) beiug developed from the matrix by the Formatore. 
