Coelurosauravus

Coelurosauravus (meaning "hollow lizard grandfather") is a genus of basal diapsid reptiles. Known from several specimens found in Madagascar, Germany, and England, members of this genus possessed long, rod-like ossifications along the edge of the body. These bony rods were not extensions of the ribs but were instead newly developed bones derived from the skin of the animal, a feature which is unique to the genus and its close relatives. It is believed that during life, these structures were covered with skin, forming wing-like surfaces which Coelurosauravus could use for gliding.[1]

Known specimens of the genus had an average length of 40 centimetres (16 in). The body was long and flat, suitable for gliding. The skull was lizard-like with a pointed snout and contained a broad back with a serrated crest, superficially resembling the crests of ceratopsian dinosaurs.[2]

Daedalosaurus madagascariensis Carroll, 1978, based on a specimen from the Late Permian Sakamena Formation of the Morondava Basin in Madagascar, is a synonym of Coelurosauravus elivensis, the type species of Coelurosauravus.[3] Gracilisaurus ottoi and Weigeltisaurus jaekeli, both from the Late Permian Kupferschiefer Member (Werra Formation) of northeastern Germany, were also synonymized with Coelurosauravus in 1987. Weigeltisaurus jaekeli was retained as a separate species of Coelurosauravus, Coelurosauravus jaekeli.[1] However, a 2015 study by Bulanov & Sennikov re-evaluated skull material referred to Coelurosauravus and reinstated Weigeltisaurus jaekeli as a valid genus.[4]