Reptile
Nikkasaurus tatarinovi
Nikkasaurus tatarinoviNikkasaurus tatarinovi scuttled through the riparian lowlands of European Russia during the Middle Permian, filling a nimble insectivorous niche. Its disproportionately large eye sockets suggest keen vision suited for hunting in dense ground cover or under low-light conditions. While many contemporaneous therapsids evolved massive builds, this small synapsid retained primitive lizard-like proportions and slender teeth adapted to snatching fast-moving prey.
FossilPermian
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyPrimitive beetles, Blattodean insects, Centipedes
Predators
- Biarmosuchians
- Large temnospondyls
- Basal gorgonopsians
ThreatsEnvironmental aridification and habitat loss (extinct)
HabitatsRiparian floodplains and inland river basins
Life spanEstimated 3–7 years
Classification
- FamilyNikkasauridae
- GenusNikkasaurus
- SpeciesNikkasaurus tatarinovi
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Extinct fossil organism; safe to study in museum and academic contexts.
Responsible observation
- Fossil Identification: Look for exceptionally large eye orbits preserved in delicate, compact skulls.
- Academic Review: Compare its cranial sutures with early therapsids to understand its evolutionary placement.
Contemporary Radim Holiš / CC BY-SA 3.0 cz · cc-by-sa
Image unavailableEcosystem Neighbor Close Relative
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