what is the land like where mesosaurus fossils are found?

The land where Mesosaurus fossils are found was primarily composed of shallow freshwater lakes and ponds within a region that included parts of what is now eastern South America (Brazil, Uruguay) and southern Africa. These environments were not open marine but rather hypersaline lakes or similar water bodies where Mesosaurus, a semi-aquatic reptile, lived. The land around these water bodies would have been part of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana during the early Permian period. Mesosaurus fossils have been discovered in formations such as the Irati and Melo Formations in South America and the Whitehill Formation in southern Africa. The sediments that preserved the fossils suggest these areas featured shallow water bodies with muddy bottoms where Mesosaurus remains were covered by sediment as waters receded. Additionally, studies indicate that adult Mesosaurus spent some time on land, implying the surrounding land could support semi-aquatic lifestyles, likely with conditions similar to wetlands or shores near these lakes. In summary, the land where Mesosaurus fossils are found was characterized by shallow, probably saline or hypersaline water bodies within a warm climate, with muddy sediments and adjacent areas that allowed these early reptiles to move between water and land environments.