Anteosaurus magnificus

The large Anteosaurus, an anteosaur from the Middle Permian of South Africa was the apex predator of its time probably praying on the big herbivores, the Tapinocephalids.

Name

Anteosaurus magnificus

Authority

Watson, 1921

Meaning of generic name

Early Lizard

Size

Skull length: 80 cm , Length: 5 m

Remains

Holotype: Skull

Referred specimens: known from skulls and poscranial elements of more than 30 individuals.

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Tapinocephalus Assemblage Zone , Middle Permian (Capitanian).

Type locality: Beaufort West, Karoo deposits of South Africa.

Classification

Synapsida Therapsida Dinocephalia Anteosauria Anteosauridae

Further Reading

Watson, D. M. S., 1921, The Bases of Classification of the Theriodontia: Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1921, p. 35-98.

Boonstra, L. D. 1963. Diversity within the South African Dinocephalia. S. Afr. J. Sci. 59: 196-206. King, G.M., 1988, "Anomodontia" Part 17 C, Encyclopedia of Paleoherpetology, Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart and New York.

Synonyms

Titanosuchus ferox Broom, 1910 non Owen, 1876; Pseudanteosaurus minor (Broom, 1929); Anteosaurus minor Broom, 1929; Anteosaurus lotzi (Broili & Schroeder, 1935); Titanognathus lotzi Broili & Schroeder, 1935; Anteosaurus minusculus Boonstra, 1936; Anteosaurus minor Boonstra, 1936; Anteosaurus vorsteri (Broom, 1936); Dinosuchus vorsteri Broom, 1936; Broomosuchus vorsteri (Broom, 1936) Camp, Taylor & Welles, 1942; Anteosaurus abeli Boonstra, 1952; Anteosaurus major Boonstra, 1954; Micranteosaurus parvus Boonstra, 1954; Anteosaurus acutirostris Boonstra, 1954; Anteosaurus crassifrons Boonstra, 1954; Anteosaurus laticeps Boonstra, 1954; Anteosaurus cruentus Boonstra, 1954; Anteosaurus levops Boonstra, 1954; Eccasaurus priscus Broom, 1909; ? Paranteosaurus primus Boonstra, 1954

Images by Nobu Tamura (click to enlarge)

Anteosaurus magnificus:

Earlier version of same: