Origin of reptiles

Amphibian origin. It is generally agreed that primitive reptiles originated from some primitive
lahyrinthodont Amphibia, in the beginning of Carboniferous period. The labyrinthcxlonts possessed
characteristically folded or labyrinthine teeth, similar to their crossopterygian ancestors. They
flourished through Carboniferous and Permian periods before extinction in the Triassic. We cannot
however point to a single ancestor of reptiles. Probably they arose polyphyletically along a dozen or
more independent lines.

Stem reptiles (Cotylosauria): During Carboniferous period of late Palaeozoic Era, about 250
million years ago, some labyrinthodont amphibians gradually took on reptilian characters. These
earliest reptiles are called the stem reptiles. They belong to the order Cotylosauria of the subclass
Anapsida. The transition was so gradual that often it is difficult to decide whether some fossil
skeletons are those of advanced amphibians or primitive reptiles.

Seymouria: One of the members of the Cotylosauria was Seymouria, found in the Lower Permian of
Texas (U.S.A.), perhaps 250 million years old. It was a lizard—like animal about 60 cm long, with a
comparatively thick body, relatively small pointed head with dorsally placed nostrils, and a short tail.
Structure of Seymouria was intermediate between the amphibians of that time and the early reptiles.

(a) Amphibian affinities: Seymouria resembled early Amphibia or Labyrinthodontia in many

(i) Skull is flat with reduced ossification

(ii) An intertemporal bone is present

(iii) Palate is primitive

(iv) Teeth are labyrinthine and also found on vomers and palatines

(v) Position of fenestra ovalis below the basal level of brain is amphibian

(vi) There are traces of lateral line canals in head region

(vii) Vertebrae show little differentiation

(viii) One pair of sacral ribs are present

(ix) N e c k is short so that pectoral girdle lies close behind skull.

(b) Reptilian affinities. Seymouria had several characteristically reptilian features

(i) Limbs are muscular and arise mid-ventrally

(ii) S k u l l is anapsid and monocondylic

(iii) Pelvic girdle is attached to vertebral column by sacral vertebrae

(iv) Number of phalanges 2 : 3 : 4 : 5 : 3 or 4 is more reptile like.

(c) Conclusions. Seymouria leads us to certain logical conclusions. It is not directly ancestral to all
reptiles. At the time it was living, the reptiles had already been present for some 50 million years. It is
so perfectly intermediate between an amphibian and a reptile that its true position remains uncertain.
Romer treats it as a reptile under the order Cotylosauria, whereas others classify it with primitive
Amphibia under the order Seymouria-morpha. Perhaps Seymouria is a connecting link between
Labyrinthodontia and Cotylsosauria.

Limnoscelis. Now Seymouria seems no longer to occupy the position which it has often graced in text
books as the ideal primitive reptile. Another creature. Limnoscelis has special claims to attention. This
was a genuine reptile from the late Carboniferous or early Permian of New Mexico. Romer (1946)
critically studied it and suggested that Limnoscelis, a Captorhinomorph Cotylosaur is the primitive
reptile. Although, it was also too late an arrival, on the geological scene, to have seen, the actual
prototype of the reptilian evolution. Limnoscelis was about 5 ft in length, some half of which was
made up by tail, with an elongated body, low slung on short stubby legs which sprawled outwards
from the sides. Like Seymouria, it was also aquatic in habitat. The skull was anapsid type, compressed
from side and dorsoventrally flattened. The otic notch present in Labyrinthodonts, had disappeared,
leaving indication at back of the skull, in the region of its closure. The premaxillary teeth were
enlarged and over hung the front teeth in the lower jaw, which is one of the most common
specialization of early reptiles, but seldom seen in amphibians

Diadectes: They were contemporary to Limnoscelis, but their evolutionary line is different. The
didectomorphs retained the otic notch at the back of skull. Diadectes had developed a specialized
dentition. The front teeth were chisel shaped and back teeth had broad ridged crowns

The first really large reptiles to make their appearance in the later Permian' were the
Pareiasaurs, related to Diadectes. These lumbering animals ran to spiny excrescences on the head and
spiny armour of bony plates along back, which was presumably a defence against carnivorous
mammals like reptiles.

From the foregoing discussion, it is clear that the Cotylosaurs were broadly speaking ancestral
to all reptiles. Some workers including Watson believe that these Cotylosaurs separated into two
divergent evolutionary lines. One of these lines is represented by Captorhinomorph (sub order) of
which Limnoscelis was primitive member, led to mammal like reptiles and ultimately to mammals and
has been termed as theropsida. The other line however, the Sauropsida is represented by
Didectomorph Cotylosaurss, the remaining reptiles and birds. In this group, the otic notch tends to
persist. Although, the authorities have not yet agreed, as at what prescise stage of evolution these two
separated from one another. It seems clear therefore that the modern reptiles are not intermediate in
the evolutionary sense between amphibians and mammals. And to find out a common ancestor for a
crcature like a lizard and a mammal, one has to go back to an ancient reptilian or possibly to an
amphibian according to Watson.