Ericiolacerta

Ericiolacerta is an extinct genus of small therocephalian therapsids from the early Triassic of South Africa and Antarctica. It was around 20 centimetres (7.9 in) in length, with long limbs and relatively small teeth. It probably ate insects and other small invertebrates.

Ericiolacerta Temporal range: Early Triassic PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Ericiolacerta parva
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Clade:	Therapsida
Suborder:	†Therocephalia
Family:	†Ericiolacertidae
Genus:	†Ericiolacerta Watson, 1931
Species:	†E. parva
Binomial name
†Ericiolacerta parva Watson, 1931

Ericiolacerta

The therocephalians – therapsids with mammal-like heads – were quite abundant in Permian times, but only a few made it into the Triassic. Ericiolacerta was one of those. It is possible that they gave rise to the cynodonts, the only therapsid group to survive into post-Triassic times. It was these that gave rise to the mammals.

Little holes in the snout area of the skull suggest that perhaps the snout had highly developed sense organs, like whiskers. There is a palate in the roof of the mouth, separating the breathing passage from the eating area. This suggests an efficient eating mechanism that may indicate a warm-blooded lifestyle.

Ericiolacerta, meaning "Eric's little lizard", was named in 1931.