**Anthodon: An Ancient Reptile**
Anthodon is an extinct group of reptiles that lived during the Permian period, about 254 to 252 million years ago. Fossils of this creature were found in South Africa and Tanzania.
**Discovery History**
In 1845, two amateur geologists named William Guybon Atherstone and Andrew Geddes Bain found fossils near a place called Dassieklip in South Africa. This was the first dinosaur discovery in Africa.
They sent some of these fossils to a famous scientist named Richard Owen for study. Owen named a part of these fossils “Anthodon serrarius” in 1876. The name Anthodon means “flower tooth,” which is a reference to the shape of its teeth.
Later on, in 1932, another scientist named Sidney Haughton possibly named a second species called A. minusculus from fossils found in Tanzania.
Other names were also linked to Anthodon, like Pareiasaurus parvus and Propappus parvus, which turned out to be the same species.
**What Anthodon Looked Like**
Anthodon was about 1.2 to 1.5 meters long, which is around 3.9 to 4.9 feet. It weighed between 80 to 100 kilograms or about 180 to 220 pounds.
Its body had small bony plates that were similar to a turtle’s shell. This armor covered its back and helped protect it. Its tail was short compared to some of its relatives.
**Skull Features**
The skull of Anthodon was quite small and made up of light materials. It was about 30 centimeters long with cheekbones that featured large horn-like structures.
Anthodon had a series of overlapping teeth that were small and uniform in size. Each tooth had several points or cusps, giving them a unique flower-like appearance.
In summary, Anthodon was an ancient reptile, part of the larger group known as pareiasaurs. Its unique features and history show us how diverse and interesting prehistoric life was!