glossopteran

Glossopteran is a term used to describe a group of plants and animals that were widespread during the late Paleozoic era, particularly in the supercontinent of Gondwana. The term was coined by the German geologist Eduard Suess in 1882, who recognized the widespread distribution of certain plant fossils across southern continents. Glossopterans include a variety of plants, such as the extinct conifers Glossopteris and Gangamopteris, as well as some reptiles, including the dicynodonts and some early mammals. These organisms are significant in paleobiology and paleoclimatology because their distribution and fossil record provide evidence for the configuration of ancient supercontinents and the paleoclimatic conditions of the late Paleozoic era. The study of glossopterans has contributed to our understanding of the Earth's geological history and the evolution of life during this period.