Sycosaurus

The genus Sycosaurus contains at least three species, S. laticeps (the type species) from South Africa, S. kingoriensis and S. terror from Tanzania.

I

Name

Sycosaurus laticeps

Authority

Haughton, 1924

Meaning of generic name

Fig lizard

Size

Length: 1.2 m, Skull length: 24 cm.

Remains

Holotype (SAM 4022):

Referred specimens: BPI 126

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Cistecephalus Assemblage Zone, Beaufort Group, Upper Permian (Wuchiapingian).

Locality: South Africa.

Classification

Synapsida Therapsida Gorgonopsia Gorgonopsidae Rubidgeinae

Further Reading

Haughton, S. H., 1924, On some Gorgonopsian skulls in the collection of the South African Museum: Annals of the South African Museum, v. 12, p. 499-517.

Sigogneau, D., 1970. Revision Systematique des Gorgonopsiens Sud-Africains: Cahiers de Paleontologie, 414pp.

Gebauer E., 2007. Phylogeny and Evolution of the Gorgonopsia with a Special Reference to the Skull and Skeleton of GPIT/RE/7113, doctoral dissertation.

Synonyms

Leontosaurus vanderhorsti Broom & George, 1950, Sycosaurus vanderhorsti Sigogneau,1970

II

Name

Sycosaurus kingoriensis

Authority

von Huene, 1950

Size

Length: 2.5 m, Skull length: 34 cm

Remains

Holotype (GPIT/RE/7116): skull

Referred specimens: GPIT/RE/7117 (skull)

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Cistecephalus Assemblage Zone, Beaufort Group, Upper Permian (Wuchiapingian).

Locality: Ruhuhu Valley, Tanzania.

[a: is there not such a thing as localities, in plural?, b: Cistecephalus Assemblage Zone of Beaufort Group, Karoo Supergroup is a locality too!]

Further Reading

Huene, F. von, 1950, Die Theriodontier der ostafrikanischen Ruhuhu-Gebietes in der Tubinger Sammlung: Neües Jahrbuch fur Geologie und Palaontologie, Abhandlungen, v. 82, part 1, p. 47-136.

Sigogneau, D., 1970. & Gebauer E., 2007. Ut supra.

Synonyms

Lycaenops kingoriensis von Huene, 1950, Aelurognathus haughtoni von Huene, 1950, Leontocephalus haughtoni (von Huene, 1950) in Sigogneau, 1970

III

Name

Sycosaurus terror

Authority

(Maisch, 2002)

Size

Length: 2 m, Skull length: 30 cm.

Remains

Holotype (MZC 891):

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Cistecephalus Assemblage Zone, Beaufort Group, Upper Permian (Wuchiapingian).

Locality: Ruhuhu Valley, Tanzania.

[c: identic to under S. kingoriensis]

Further Reading

Maisch, M. W., 2002, Observations on Karoo and Gondwana vertebrates: Part 3: notes on the gorgonopsians from the Upper Permian fo Tanzania: Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie Monatschefte, 2002, v. 4, p. 237-251.

Sigogneau, D., 1970. & Gebauer E., 2007. Ut supra.

Synonyms

Cephalicustriodus kingoriensis Parrington 1974, Ruhuhucerberus terror Maisch 2002