Genus: Protorothyris PRICE, 1937
Etymology: Greek, proteros, “before, first, forerunner”, Greek, thyris, “opening, passage, hole”: Forerunner (skull) opening.
= Melanothyris ROMER, 1952
Etymology: Greek, melanos, “black”, Greek, thyris, “opening, passage, hole”: Black (skull) opening.

Species: archeri PRICE, 1937
Etymology: In honor of Michael Archer.

Holotype: MCZ 1532

Locality: Cottonwood Creek, Archer County, Texas.

Horizon: Lower Archer City Formation (formerly Moran Formation, Lower Wichita Group), middle Bowie Group.

Biostratigraphy: Land-vertebrate faunachron middle A.

Age: Lower Wolfcampanian stage, Lower Rotilegendes Epoch, Early Permian.

Material: Skull and anterior portions of postcranial skeleton.

Referred material:

MCZ 2149: Laterally compressed skull.

MCZ 2148: Laterally compressed skull lacking snout region, pectoral girdle and anterior vertebrae.

MCZ 2150: Dorsoventrally compressed skull and postcranial elements.

MCZ 2147: Dorsoventrally compressed skull.

FMNH UR 379: Cast of type.

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Species: morani (ROMER, 1952) CLARK & CARROLL, 1973
Etymology:
= Melanothyris morani ROMER, 1952

Holotype: CM 8617

Locality: Dunkard locality 9, near Blacksville, West Virginia.

Horizon: Equivalent to the Lower Wichita Group.

Biostratigraphy:

Age: Leonardian stage, Upper Rotilegendes Epoch, Early Permian.

Material: Skull laterally compressed.

Referred material:

MCZ 2151: Dorsoventrally compressed skull and associated postcranial material.

MCZ 2152: Skull.

MCZ 4110: Posterior portion of skull roof and left check region.

MCZ 4111: Badly crushed skull.

MCZ 4112: Dorsoventrally crushed skull.

MCZ 4113: Incomplete skull associated with MCZ 2151.