Pachydectes elsi

This primitive therapsid from the Middle Permian of South Africa largest and one of the earliest Burnetiamorph (with Bullacephalus).

Name

Pachydectes elsi

Authority

Rubidge, Sidor and Modesto, 2006

Meaning of generic name

Thick biter

Size

Skull length: 35 mm, Length: ? 2 m

Remains

Holotype (BP/1/5735): transversely compressed partial skull without lower jaws.

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Koonap Formation (Beaufort Group), Middle of Tapinocephalus assemblage zone, Middle Permian (Wordian or Capitanian).

Type locality: Mrester farm, Jansenville District, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

Classification

Synapsida Therapsida Biarmosuchia Burnetiamorpha Burnetiidae

Further Reading

B. S. Rubidge, C. A. Sidor, and S. P. Modesto. 2006. A new burnetiamorph (Therapsida: Biarmosuchia) from the Middle Permian of South Africa. Journal of Paleontology 80(4):740-749 .