(Early Permian)

The Mesosaurus brasiliensis was a small aquatic reptile that lived during the early Permian.

The Mesosaurus was actually used as proof by Alfred Wegener in 1912 to argue his theory that the planet once had a supercontinent we call Pangea that split into the continents we know today. The fossils of the Mesosaurus brasiliensis are found in two places: the Irati Formation of Brazil in South America, and the Whitehill Formation of southern Africa. As you might have noticed, these two locations are separated by an entire ocean. The little Mesosaurus brasiliensis did not swim across an entire ocean, but instead, its old habitat was split in two due to continental drift.

(Early Permian)

Captorhinus was a genus of early reptiles that lived during the Early Permian period. They were omnivorous and similar in size to a bearded dragon. Though they may not look like much, Captorhinus is incredibly important to the fossil record. These excellently-preserved reptiles possess one of the earliest known rib-powered breathing systems. Unlike their predecessors who breathed by absorbing oxygen through their skin or by lowering their jaws (a bit like a frog breathes for visual reference), the Captorhinus’ ribs expanded with each breath. This new breathing system was better suited for more active lifestyles of these new land-dwelling animals and allowed for more diversification over time.

Captorhinus also had a parietal eye, or a third light-sensing structure on the top of their heads, which certain fish, amphibian, and reptile species also possess.