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Description
The enigmatic protorosaurs originated in the late Permian and, in our timeline, died out by the end of the Triassic (possibly the early Jurassic). But in this world, they have survived to the present, in one form or another. They exhibited a great radiation in the late Jurassic and early Cretaceous and again after the minor K/Pg event. Most of the long necked lizard-like forms have since died out, but a few "typical" varieties still remain, though how typical they are is a matter of debate. The only groups that are still remotely like the protorosaurs of old are the American Psychogiraffids and the African Paravaranids (shown here).

The superficially monitor lizard-like paravaranids are an ancient group endemic to Africa. The fossil record suggests a mid-Cretaceous origin and their fossils have been found in many Eurasian and African deposits. They are believe to have become restricted to Africa only in the last 5 million years or so.

The sole genus Paravaranus is composed of at least 5 species found all across Africa, but most are fond of savanna habitats, particularly wherever exfoliating rock piles are present. It is in these crevices that they take shelter and lay their eggs. They range in length from 3 meters to 1 meter in total length and are crepuscular hunters of small vertebrates and invertebrates which are found under rocks and fallen logs. As their common name suggests, they use their reinforced flattened heads to lift rocks and pry off bark from logs. Their bodies are dorso-ventrally flattened and their backs are covered in plate-like armor. Unusually, they have diphodont dentition; while the anterior teeth are sharp and needle-like, the posterior teeth are flattened for crushing invertebrate shells (they are quite fond of snails).

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I think this is how I'm going to do all my SpecEvo reconstructions, a detailed colored illustration surrounded by "field sketches". What do you think?

Made in Sketchbook Express

Description
The enigmatic protorosaurs originated in the late Permian and, in our timeline, died out by the end of the Triassic (possibly the early Jurassic). But in this world, they have survived to the present, in one form or another. They exhibited a great radiation in the late Jurassic and early Cretaceous and again after the minor K/Pg event. Most of the long necked lizard-like forms have since died out, but a few "typical" varieties still remain, though how typical they are is a matter of debate. The only groups that are still remotely like the protorosaurs of old are the American Psychogiraffids and the African Paravaranids (shown here).

The superficially monitor lizard-like paravaranids are an ancient group endemic to Africa. The fossil record suggests a mid-Cretaceous origin and their fossils have been found in many Eurasian and African deposits. They are believe to have become restricted to Africa only in the last 5 million years or so.

The sole genus Paravaranus is composed of at least 5 species found all across Africa, but most are fond of savanna habitats, particularly wherever exfoliating rock piles are present. It is in these crevices that they take shelter and lay their eggs. They range in length from 3 meters to 1 meter in total length and are crepuscular hunters of small vertebrates and invertebrates which are found under rocks and fallen logs. As their common name suggests, they use their reinforced flattened heads to lift rocks and pry off bark from logs. Their bodies are dorso-ventrally flattened and their backs are covered in plate-like armor. Unusually, they have diphodont dentition; while the anterior teeth are sharp and needle-like, the posterior teeth are flattened for crushing invertebrate shells (they are quite fond of snails).

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I think this is how I'm going to do all my SpecEvo reconstructions, a detailed colored illustration surrounded by "field sketches". What do you think?

Made in Sketchbook Express