Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 May 2009
In a collection of Coal-measure Vertebrata made by Mr. J. Ward, of Longton, and recently acquired by the British Museum, there is an imperfect, crushed skeleton of a small Labyrinthodont from the Ash-coal Shale of Longton Hall Colliery, Staffordshire. This specimen was noticed by Miall in 1874 in his British Association Report on the Classification of the Labyrinthodonts, where it is referred to Urocordylus, some of the characters given in his diagnosis of that genus being taken from it. Some measurements of the skull were added. The same specimen was afterwards figured in Mr. Ward's paper “On the Geological Features of the North Staffordshire Coal-field” (Trans. N. Staffs. Instit. Mining Engineers, vol. x. 1890, pl. ix. fig. 2) as Keraterpetum Galvani. This figure, which is natural size, unfortunately does not show any details of the structure of the skull, some account of which may be of interest.
page 83 note 1 The morphological value of these separate epiotic cornua is doubtful. Fritsch himself suggests that they may either be simply portions of the epiotic bones or may constitute the whole of them, the bone to which they articulate being in that case undetermined. It may be pointed out that these elements occupy the position of the post-temporals of fishes, and may possibly indicate the former occurrence among the Stegocephali of a connection between the posterior region of the cranium and the pectoral girdle.
page 84 note 1 Sitzungb. der k. bohm. Ges. der Wissensch. 19 März, 1875.
page 84 note 2 Nat. Hist. Trans. Northumberland and Durham, vol. iii. p. 310.Google Scholar