Melosaurus fossil map
Where fossils of Melosaurus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 275 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 275 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Early tetrapods & amphibians |
|---|---|
| Lived | 277.3–264.28 million years ago (Kungurian to Wordian) |
| Periods | Permian |
| Family | Archegosauridae |
| Named by | von Meyer 1857 |
| Fossil records | 7 occurrences at 7 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Russia |
| Rock formations | txn:37057, Belebei, Pechishchi, Belebey, Baytugan |
About Melosaurus
Melosaurus is an extinct genus of temnospondyl amphibian. Fossils of it have been found in Russia. Fossil remains of Melosaurus uralensis were discovered at Belebei in Russia. Its fossils dated of the Asselian-Olenekian stages (299–245 million years ago). Fossils of Melosaurus sp. were also unearthed at the site. Fossils of Melosaurus uralensis were found at the Sterlitamak site in Bashkortostan in Russia. The span of the strata is listed as Wordian (268–265.8 million years ago).
Melosaurus was 2.5–3 m (8.2–9.8 ft) in length. It lived around ponds, lakes, rivers, and marshes. The diet of Melosaurus consisted of fish and smaller tetrapods. Melosaurus was a powerful predator. It very likely preyed upon Discosauriscus (an aquatic batrachosaur).
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Melosaurus (revision 1368822018), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q56317725.
