Amniota - Synapsida - Ophiacodontidae

Synonym: Poecilospondylus francisi Case 1910

Full reference: F. Broili. 1904. Permische Stegocephalen und Reptilien aus Texas. Palaeontographica 51:1-120

Belongs to Varanosaurus according to A. S. Romer and L. I. Price 1940

Sister taxon: Varanosaurus wichitaensis

Type specimens:

• Varanosaurus acutirostris: BSPHM 1901 XV 20, a skeleton. Its type locality is Craddock Bonebed, Brush Creek, 38 (Arroyo Formation), which is in a Kungurian terrestrial claystone/sandstone in the Arroyo Formation of Texas.
• Poecilospondylus francisi: AMNH 4174, a skeleton. Its type locality is Coffee Creek, 34 (Arroyo Formation), which is in a Kungurian terrestrial claystone/sandstone in the Arroyo Formation of Texas.

Ecology: