Scutosaurus

permian · armored reptile · ancient russia

Covered in armor. Scutosaurus had large bony plates scattered all across its body like a suit of protective shields, which is where its name comes from, meaning shield lizard.

Truly massive. This reptile weighed over 1 tonne (about 2,200 pounds), making it one of the biggest reptiles alive during the Permian period.

Ancient creature. Scutosaurus lived between 259 and 252 million years ago, which was before dinosaurs even existed.

Russian fossils. Scientists found the remains of Scutosaurus near the Ural Mountains in European Russia, preserved in rock formations from the late Permian era.

Different reptile type. Scutosaurus was a pareiasaurian, a special kind of reptile that lived during the Permian period and is not directly related to modern reptiles.