Horizon and locality: Linton, Ohio, Coal Measures.
The cranium of this species is quite unknown. The only genus with which the specimen can be compared in the structure of the skeleton is Tuditanus. From the other species of the genus the present form differs in the presence of ventral chevron rods and the elongate character of the limbs, as well as in the possession of large iliac bones, which, in the only other species in which the ilia are known, are small and slender. It seems best to locate the species in this genus for the present, although it may eventually have to be removed to another group. Very little is known of the main portion of the skeleton of the species of Tuditanus, other than in T. longipes, so an exact comparison is impossible. From all the species of Tuditanus thus far known the present species differs in the elongate character of the limbs and in the presence of ventral scutellation. There are three other species of Tuditanus in which the limbs are known. These are: T. walcotti Moodie, T. minimus Moodie, and T. punctulatus Cope. In these three species the limbs are short and weakly developed. From the other species of Tuditanus the present species maybe separated by its size principally, since nothing of the bodies of the other species is known.
The body of the present species is elongate and slender, with a long neck and probably a long tail. Ribs, as preserved, are 19 to 22, though there may possibly have been more. They are moderately curved backwards, have intercentral articulation, are attenuated at the distal extremity, and are single-headed. The anterior ribs are stouter, with a widened upper portion and attenuated distal part. The posterior ribs are more slender.
Fig. 20. Cope's drawing of Tuditanus longipes, from the Linton, Ohio, Coal Measures. × 1.
There are evidences of 28 vertebræ present. All regions of the vertebral column are present and the dorsal region is preserved entire. The cervical series is represented by the posterior vertebræ only. These are very indistinctly preserved. The dorsal vertebræ are elongate and were probably amphicœlous, although this has not been definitely determined. They are expanded at each end, thus ending in a slightly raised rim. The single-headed ribs articulate between the vertebræ. The exact number of the dorsal series can not be ascertained, although this may have been 25. The spines of the vertebræ are not determinable, since the animal is preserved on its back. The caudal vertebræ are represented by two patches of the remains of what was once probably the entire series. Cope ascribes 70 mm. to the tail, but I do not find that much. The specimen may have been mutilated since he studied it. The caudals are slender and, like the dorsals, are expanded at the extremities.
The scapular arch is not preserved, but the pelvic arch is represented by the two iliac bones in good state of preservation. These are short, flat bones expanded at the anterior extremity, as preserved. They lie turned a little to each side of the vertebral column and partially obscure the femora. The iliac bones are quite characteristic of this form, since similar-shaped elements have not been observed in any of the other Carboniferous forms from the same deposit.
The greater part of the forelimb is preserved, although much of the hand is missing. The humerus is an unusually elongate bone and lies somewhat across the vertebral column. It is crushed flat and the ends are partly destroyed. It shows evidences of expansion at the ends, although not a great deal. It is much longer than the radius and ulna, which are of about equal length. The ulna is larger than the radius and has expanded ends, with the upper end more expanded than the lower and both ends slightly truncate. The radius is a simple rod of bone and is but slightly expanded. The carpus was evidently cartilaginous, since there is no evidence of osseous material in its place. There is but one phalangeal bone preserved, and, since this is displaced with reference to the ulna and radius, its position can not be determined. It may have been a metacarpal. It is short and expanded at the ends.