palæohatteria

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A long-tailed, lizard-like, rhynchocephalian reptile, about 18 inches in length, found in the lower Permian beds of Germany: one of oldest known reptiles. Its skull has large orbits, large upper and lower temporal arcades, and a full series of sharp conical teeth. The digits were clawed and the animal's habits were probably aquatic.