Proterogyrinus
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[Photo] Proterogyrinus - reconstruction autor - Bogdanov dmitrchel@mail.ru

Fossil range: Carboniferous

Proterogyrinus was an anthracosaur which lived in the Carboniferous period.

Its name is Greek for "earlier tadpole".

General Information
During the Late Carboniferous period(323 - 290 million years ago), the amphibians were an exciting and diverse group of animals that had come to dominate the waterlogged forest world. Proterogyrinus was one of the largest amphibians, and was perfectly adapted for life in the swamps. It was a top predator that hunted both on land and in the water. Its powerful jaws had sharp teeth could handle animals that were quite large, such as fish, reptiles, and other amphibians.

Most Carboniferous amphibians were good swimmers and could move fast through the rivers, lakes, and bogs surrounding the lowland forests, but also could walk on land like some amphibians today. Many species either stayed in the water at all times or could only wriggle through the mud on the banks; few (including Proterogyrinus) ventured further into the forest.

In popular culture
Proterogyrinus also appeared in Walking with Monsters. It was shown acting like a crocodile; basking on the shorelines and leaping out of the water similar to modern alligators to catch a Meganeura. In the episode, it fought an Arthropleura and won when the Arthopleura came down from rearing and impaled itself on a bush stump.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proterogyrinus

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