Varanosaurus ('monitor lizard') is an extinct genus of early ophiacodontid synapsid that lived during the ArtinskianA. S. Romer. 1937. New genera and species of pelycosaurian reptiles. Proceedings of the New England Zoölogical Club 16:89-95 and Kungurian ages of the Permian.R. R. Reisz. 1986. Pelycosauria. Handbuch der Paläoherpetologie / Encyclopedia of Paleoherpetology 17A:1-102
Description
As its name implies, Varanosaurus may have looked superficially similar to present-day monitor lizards, though not related at all.
Varanosaurus had a flattened, elongated skull and a pointed snout with a row of sharp teeth, including two pairs of conspicuous pseudocanines, implying that it was an active predator.
Varanosaurus probably lived in swamps, competing with the larger Ophiacodon for food.
Classification
Below is a cladogram modified from the analysis of Benson (2012):
See also List of pelycosaurs
References
Further reading Benes, Josef. Prehistoric Animals and Plants. Pg. 90. Artia: Prague, 1979.