Xenohystrix crassidens

This picture [rights not yet acquired for this blog, but see link while it lasts] is of Hystrix cristata, a living relative of the Miocene/Pliocene porcupine Xenohystrix crassidens. Both are in the family Hystricidae. Hystrix cristata is native to Africa and Italy, including Sicily.

Name

Xenohystrix crassidens

Authority

Greenwood 1955

Meaning of generic name

Foreign Hystrix

Meaning of specific name

with thick teeth

Size

60-90 cm. (1.97-2.95 feet)

Remains

Dentaries

Age and Distribution

Miocene, Ma West Margin site (5.7 - 5.2 million years ago), Ethiopia

Pliocene Makapansgat (Members 3,4) 3.7 - 2.5 million years ago) South Africa,

Classification

Mammalia, Rodentia, Ctenohystrica, Hystricognathi, and Hystricidae

Further Reading

Leslea J. Hlusko. 2007. EARLIEST EVIDENCE FOR ATHENURUS AND XENOHYSTRIX (HYSTRICIDAE, RODENTIA) IN AFRICA, FROM THE LATE MIOCENE SITE OF LEMUDONGYO, KENYA. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

Nqwebasaurus thwazi

Name

Nqwebasaurus thwazi

Authority

de Klerk, Forster, Sampson, Chinsamy and Ross, 2000

Meaning of generic name

Named after the formation it was discovered. Kirkwood Formation, called 'Nqweba' in the native language of the Xhosa

Size

Body length: 90 cm?

Remains

Near complete skeleton including a fragmentary skull.

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Kirkwood Formation, Late Jurassic - Early Cretaceous (Berriasian or Valanginian)

Locality: Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Classification

Dinosauria Saurischia Theropoda Coelurosauria Compsognathidae

Further Reading

de Klerk, W.J.; Forster, C.A.; Sampson, S.D.; Chinsamy, A.; Ross, C.F. (2000). "A new coelurosaurian dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous of South Africa". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 2 (20): 324–332.

Paranthodon africanus

Name

Paranthodon africanus

Authority

(Broom, 1912)

Meaning of generic name

"Beside Anthodon"

Meaning of specific name

From Africa

Remains

Holotype (BMNH 47338) : skull.

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Kirkwood Formation. Early Cretaceous (Berriasian–Valanginian)

Locality: Bushmans River, Woodbury Farm, Algoa Basin, Cape province, South Africa.

Classification

Dinosauria Ornithischia Stegosauria Stegosauridae.

Further Reading

P. M. Galton and W. P. Coombs. 1981. Paranthodon africanus (Broom), a stegosaurian dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of South Africa. Géobios 14(3):299-309.

Synonyms

Palaeoscincus africanus Broom, 1912; Paranthodon oweni Nopcsa 1929, Paranthodon owenii Nopcsa 1929

Eucnemesaurus fortis

The remains were found and described by Van Hoepen in 1920. Eucnemesaurus was described in 1985 as a theropod dinosaur called Aliwalia rex until 2006 a re-evaluation of the material determined Eucnemesaurus fortis as valid.

Name

Eucnemesaurus fortis

Authority

Van Hoepen, 1920

Meaning of generic name

Greek "Good Tibia Lizard" named after the robustness of the tibiae

Meaning of specific name

From latin meaning Strong

Size

Body Length: 36 ft (11 m)

Remains

Holotype: TM 119, a partial (fragmentary) skeleton consisting of vertebrae, pelvic remains and limb elements

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Lower Elliot Formation, Upper Triassic (Late Carnian-Early Norian)

Locality: Farm Zonderhout, Slabberts district, Orange Free State, South Africa.

Classification

Dinosauria Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Prosauropoda Riojasauridae

Further Reading

E. C. N. van Hoepen (1920). "Contributions to the knowledge of the reptiles of the Karroo Formation. 6. Further dinosaurian material in the Transvaal Museum", Annals of the Transvaal Museum 7(2): 93-141

Yates, A.M. (2006). "Solving a dinosaurian puzzle: the identity of Aliwalia rex Galton". Historical Biology, 1–31, iFirst article

Synonyms

Aliwalia rex, Galton 1985

Litargosuchus leptorhynchus

This small and slender sphenosuchian shows adaptation for a cursorial habit. It is known from a single partial skeleton of a possible juvenile.

Name

Litargosuchus leptorhynchus

Authority

Clark & Sues, 2002

Meaning of generic name

From Greek litargos, running fast, and Greek soukhos, crocodile

Meaning of specific name

From Greek leptos, thin, delicate, and Greek rhynchos , snout, muzzle

Size

Skull length: , Length:

Remains

Holotype (BP/1/5237): skull, mandible and much of the postcranial skeleton, first identified as Pedeticosaurus sp. by Gow & Kitching (1988).

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Upper Elliot Formation (Stormberg Group). Early Jurassic

Locality: farm Eagles Crag, Barkley East, South Africa

Classification

Archosauromorpha Crurotarsi Paracrocodylomorpha Sphenosuchia Sphenosuchidae

Further Reading

Clark, J. M., and Sues, H.-D., 2002. Two new basal crocodylomorph archosaurs from the Lower Jurassic and the monophyly of the sphenosuchia: In: Archosaurian anatomy and palaeontology. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, v. 136, p. 77-95.

Synonyms

Pedeticosaurus sp. Gow & Kitching, 1988

Abrictosaurus consors

When originally described as a species of Lycorhinus, the holotype fossil was thought to belong to a female because of the lack of tusk (thus the species name 'consors'). Richard Thulborn also thought that the animal had aestivation cycles. Hopson who did not believe in this theory renamed the genus Abrictosaurus (wakeful lizard).

Name

Abrictosaurus consors

Authority

(Thulborn, 1974)

Meaning of generic name

"Wakeful lizard".

Meaning of specific name

spouse.

Size

Body length: 1.2 m, Skull length: ?

Remains

Holotype (UCL B54): partial skull and skeleton

Referred specimens: UCL A100 (fragmentary skull from S. Africa, holotype of Lycorhinus angustidens)

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Upper Elliot Formation. Early Jurassic (Hettangian-Sinemurian)

Locality: Noosi, Qacha's Nek District , Lesotho. Also, Cape province, South Africa.

Classification

Dinosauria Ornithischia Heterodontosauridae

Further Reading

R. A. Thulborn. 1974. A new heterodontosaurid dinosaur (Reptilia: Ornithischia) from the Upper Triassic red beds of Lesotho. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 55:151-175.

J. A. Hopson. 1975. On the generic separation of the ornithischian dinosaurs Lycorhinus and Heterodontosaurus from the Stormberg Series (Upper Triassic) of South Africa. South African Journal of Science 71:302-305.

Synonyms

Lycorhinus consors Thulborn, 1974; Lycorhinus angustidens Thulborn, 1970

Heterodontosaurus tucki

A study of a tiny little skull of a juvenile Heterodontosaurus discovered in a museum drawer has indicated that this animal was probably omnivorous, feeding both on plants and small animals such as insects.

Name

Heterodontosaurus tucki

Authority

Crompton and Charig, 1962

Meaning of generic name

Different toothed lizard

Size

Length: 1 m

Remains

Complete articulated skeleton

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Upper Eliott Formation, Lower Jurassic (Hettangian)

Locality: District of Herschel, Cape province, South Africa

Classification

Dinosauria Ornithischia Heterodontosauridae

Further Reading

A. W. Crompton and A. J. Charig. 1962. A new ornithischian from the Upper Triassic of South Africa. Nature 196:1074-1077

R. J. Butler, L. B. Porro, and D. B. Norman. 2008. A juvenile skull of the primitive ornithischian dinosaur Heterodontosaurus tucki from the 'Stormberg' of southern Africa. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28(3):700-711

Synonyms

Lycorhinus tucki

Images by Tobu Namura (click to enlarge)

"This is my third version of this animal. I've added a fur as the discovery of the related Tianyulong suggests it was covered with."

earlier version:

Lesothosaurus diagnosticus

Lesothosaurus was a small basal ornithischian dinosaur that lived during the Early Jurassic of Lesotho and South Africa. It has been suggested to be either a primitive thyreophorean or a basal member of the Neoornithischia (Ceratopsians, Ornithopods and Pachycephalosaurs). A recent ontogenic study by Knoll et al. (2010) indicates that Stormbergia might be the adult form of Lesothosaurus, which would then have reached a length of 2 meters.

Name

Lesothosaurus diagnosticus

Authority

Galton, 1978

Meaning of generic name

"Lesotho lizard".

Size

Body length: 1 m, Skull length: ?

Remains

Holotype (BMNH RU (UCL) B17): skull

Referred specimens: BMNH RU B 23 (juvenile skull), BMNH R 11956, BMNH R11004, BMNH R8501, SAM-PK-K400 , SAM-PK-K401, SAM-PK-1106, SAM-PK-K1105 (holotype of Stormbergia dangershoeki); BMNH R11000 (Stormbergia dangershoeki), BP/1/4885 (Stormbergia dangershoeki)

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Upper Elliot Formation. Early Jurassic (Hettangian-Sinemurian)

Locality: north flank, Likhoele Mountain, Mafetang district, Lesotho.

Classification

Dinosauria Ornithischia Lesothosauridae

Further Reading

P. M. Galton. 1978. Fabrosauridae, the basal family of ornithischian dinosaurs (Reptilia: Ornithischia). Paläontologische Zeitschrift 52(1/2):138-159.

P. C. Sereno. 1991. Lesothosaurus, "fabrosaurids," and the early evolution of Ornithischia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 11(2):168-197

R. J. Butler. 2005. The 'fabrosaurid' ornithischian dinosaurs of the Upper Elliot Formation (Lower Jurassic) of South Africa and Lesotho. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 145(2):175-218.

F. Knoll, K. Padian, K.; and A. de Ricqles, 2010. Ontogenetic change and adult body size of the early ornithischian dinosaur Lesothosaurus diagnosticus: implications for basal ornithischian taxonomy. Gondwana Research

Synonyms

Stormbergia dangershoeki Butler, 2005

Massospondylus

Massospondylus was a prosauropod from the Early Jurassic of South Africa. It was depicted as quadrupedal but a 2007 study indicated that it was bipedal. Two species are recognized: M. carinatus and M. kaalae, both from South Africa. Prosauropods remains found in Arizona, Argentina and India have been attributed to Massospondylus but they belong to different genera.

I

Name

Massospondylus carinatus

Authority

Owen, 1854

Meaning of generic name

"Longer vertebra"

Size

Length: 4 m, Skull length:

Remains

Holotype: partial skeleton

Referred specimens: remains of some 80 individuals from juvenile to adults.

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Upper Elliot Formation, Clarence Formation; Zoutpansberg Member of the Bushveld Sandstone; Forest Sandstone. Lower Jurassic (Hettangien-Plienbaschian)

Locality: Orange Free State, Cape province, S. Africa; Transvaal, S. Africa; Leribe, Quthing, Lesotho; Matabeleland, North, Zimbabwe.

Classification

Dinosauria Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Prosauropoda Massospondylidae

Further Reading

R. Owen. 1854. Descriptive catalogue of the Fossil organic remains of Reptilia and Pisces contained in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. London 1-184.

J. Attridge, A. W. Crompton, and F. A. Jenkins, Jr. 1985. The southern African Liassic prosauropod Massospondylus discovered in North America. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 5(2):128-132

Synonyms

Plateosaurus carinatus (Owen, 1854) Paul, 1988; Leptospondylus capensis Owen, 1854 (nomen dubium); Pachyspondylus orpenii Owen, 1854 (nomen dubium); Hortalotarsus skirtopodus Seeley, 1894; Gyposaurus skirtopodus (Seeley, 1894); Thecodontosaurus skirtopodus (Seeley, 1894); Massospondylus browni Seeley, 1895; Thecodontosaurus browni (Seeley, 1895); Massospondylus harriesi Broom, 1911; Aetonyx palustris Broom, 1911; Gryponyx transvaalensis Broom, 1912 (nomen dubium); Aristosaurus erectus Hoepen, 1920; Gyposaurus erectus Hoepen, 1920; Dromicosaurus gracilis Hoepen, 1920; Gryponyx taylori Haughton, 1924 (nomen dubium); Massospondylus schwarzi Haughton, 1924 (nomen dubium); Thecodontosaurus dubius Haughton, 1924; Thecodontosaurus minor Haughton, 1924 non Haughton, 1918

Images by Tobu Namura (click to enlarge)

Massospondylus carinatus:

Juvenile Massospondylus carinatus:

II

Name

Massospondylus kaalae.

Authority

Barrett, 2009

Meaning of specific name

After Mrs Sheena Kaal, collections manager for the Karoo vertebrates at the Iziko South African Museum

Size

Length: 4 m, Skull length:

[Skull length, precisely, is not given!]

Remains

Holotype (SAM-PK-K1325): incomplete skull.

[Skull is all we have!]

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Upper Elliot Formation, Lower Jurassic (Sinemurian-Plienbaschian)

Locality: Herschel District, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

Further Reading

Barrett, P. M. 2009. A new basal sauropodomorph dinosaur from the Upper Elliot Formation (Lower Jurassic) of South Africa. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 29 (4): 1032-1045

Aardonyx celestae

Aardonyx is a sauropodomorph transitional between the prosauropods and the early sauropods such as Melanorosaurus.It was habitually bipedal but could also rest on all four. Its long narrow skull did apparently not have fleshy cheeks. Aardonyx lived in the early Jurassic in what is now South Africa and could have reached a length of 6-7 m or more (the discovered fossils belong to at least two immature individuals).

Name

Aardonyx celestae

Authority

Yates, Bonnan, Neveling, Chimsamy and Blackbird, 2010

Meaning of generic name

from aard (Afrikaans for ‘Earth’) and onyx (Greek for ‘claw’)

Meaning of specific name

Honoring Celeste Yates who prepared many of the bones.

Size

Length: 6 m, Skull length: 40 cm

Remains

Holotype (BP/1/6254): rostral half of the left maxilla.

Referred specimens: A large number of disarticulated bones from the same locality, including skull elements, vertebrae, ribs and limb elements.

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Upper Elliott Formation, Lower Jurassic.

Locality: Marc’s Quarry bone bed on the farm Spion Kop 932, Senekal District, Free State, South Africa.

Classification

Dinosauria Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Sauropoda Anchisauria

Further Reading

Yates, A. M., Bonnan, M. F., Neveling, J., Chinsamy, A. and Blackbeard, M. G. 2010. A new transitional sauropodomorph dinosaur from the Early Jurassic of South Africa and the evolution of sauropod feeding and quadrupedalism. Proc. R. Soc. B. Published online before print Nov 11 2009. Abstract.

Image by Tobu Namura (click to enlarge)

Aardonyx celestae:

Megapnosaurus

Previously known as Syntarsus (the name was preoccupied by a beetle), Megapnosaurus was very similar to Coelophysis to the point that some have proposed to be the same genus. However, Megapnosaurus lived in the Early Jurassic, while Coelophysis is from the Late Triassic. Remains of several individuals have been found together indicating that it probably lived in pack. Two species have been described, M. rhodesiensis from South Africa and M. kayentakatae from Arizona. The latter had a pair of crests on its snout. Megapnosaurus remains have also been reported from the Lower Lufeng Formation of China.

I

Name

Megapnosaurus rhodesiensis

Authority

(Raath, 1969)

Meaning of generic name

"Big dead lizard".

Meaning of specific name

from Rhodesia.

Size

Body length:3 m, Skull length: ?

Remains

Holotype (QG/1): a partial skeleton.

Referred materials: remains of at least 30 individuals.

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Forest Sandstone Formation of Zimbabwe. Early Jurassic (Hettangian-Sinemurian). Also from the Upper Elliot Formation of S. Africa. Early Jurassic (Hettangian-Sinemurian)

Locality: Kwengula stream, Southcote Farm, Zimbabwe.

Classification

Dinosauria Saurischia Theropoda Coelophysoidea Coelophysidae

Further Reading

M. A. Raath. 1969. A new coelurosaurian dinosaur from the Forest Sandstone of Rhodesia. Arnoldia (Rhodesia) 4(28):1-254.

Synonyms

Syntarsus rhodesiensis (Raath, 1969); Coelophysis rhodesiensis (Raath, 1969)

II

Name

Megapnosaurus kayentakatae

Authority

(Rowe, 1989)

Meaning of specific name

To honor Dr Kathleen Smith ("Kayenta Kay"), the discoverer of the fossil.

Size

Body length:3 m, Skull length: ?

[Why ? on skull length? The skull is there at least in part from MNA V2623]

Remains

Holotype (MNA V2623): skull and partial postcranial skeleton.

Referred materials: remains of at least 16 individuals.

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Kayenta Formation. Early Jurassic (Sinemurian-Plienbaschian)

Locality: Rock Head, Willow Springs, Arizona, US.

Further Reading

T. Rowe. 1989. A new species of the theropod dinosaur Syntarsus from the Early Jurassic Kayenta Formation of Arizona. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 9(2):125-136.

Synonyms

Syntarsus kayentakatae Rowe, 1989; Coelophysis kayentakatae (Rowe, 1898)

Creationist remark: "Megapnosaurus was very similar to Coelophysis to the point that some have proposed to be the same genus. However, Megapnosaurus lived in the Early Jurassic, while Coelophysis is from the Late Triassic." = Evolutionists want to keep Coelophysis separate from "early" Jurassic. And as obviously Megapnosaurus separate from "late" Triassic.

Pumiliopareia pricei

Pumiliopareia (often referred to as Nanoparia) is the smallest known member of the pareiasaurs, measuring merely 1/5 of its largest relatives. Like the other dwarf pareiasaurs, its body was entirely covered with osteoderms.

Name

Pumiliopareia pricei

Authority

(Broom and Robinson, 1948)

Size

Length: 50 cm

Remains

Complete skeleton with osteoderms.

Age and Distribution

Upper Permian Cistecephalus zone, Karoo basin, South Africa.

Classification

Anapsida Hallucicrania Pareiasauria

Synonyms

Pareiasaurus pricei (Broom & Robinson, 1948), Nanoparia pricei Broom & Robinson, 1948

Image by Tobu Namura (click to enlarge)

Pumiliopareia pricei:

Anthodon serrarius

One small member of the pareiasaurs called dwarf pareiasaurs. Like the other members of this highly specialized herbivore group, the body was entirely shielded with osteoderms.

Name

Anthodon serrarius

Authority

Owen, 1876

Meaning of generic name

Flower tooth

Size

Length: 1 m

Remains

Holotype (BP/1/548): Partial skull and vertebrae.

Age and Distribution

Upper Permian Cistecephalus zone, Karoo basin, South Africa.

Classification

Anapsida Hallucicrania Pareiasauria

Synonyms

Propappus parvus Haughton, 1913, Pareiasaurus parvus (Haughton, 1913)

Pareiasuchus

The larger Pareiasuchus nasicornis is characterized by a heavily armored snout with a horn-like structure. It might have been ancestral to Pareiasuchus peringueyi.

I

Name

Pareiasuchus nasicornis

Authority

(Haughton and Boonstra, 1929)

Meaning of generic name

Crocodile cheek? Snake crococile?

Meaning of specific name

Nosehorn

Size

Length: 3 m

Remains

Several specimens including complete skull and postcranial elements. Osteoderms.

Age and Distribution

Upper Permian Lowermost Cistecephalus zone, Karoo basin, South Africa. Also Upper Luangwa Valley, Lowermost Cistecephalus zone, Zambia

Classification

Anapsida Hallucicrania Pareiasauria

Image by Tobu Namura (click to enlarge)

Pareiasuchus nasicornis:

II

Name

Pareiasuchus peringueyi

Authority

(Haughton and Boonstra, 1929)

Size

Length: 2.5 m

Remains

Nearly complete skeleton

Age and Distribution

Upper Permian Cistecephalus zone, Karoo basin, South Africa.

Further Reading

R. Broom and S. H. Haughton. 1913. On the Skeleton of a New Pareiasaurian (Pareiasuchus péringueyi gen. et sp. nov.). Annals of the South African Museum 12:17-25.

Synonyms

Pareiasaurus peringueyi Broom and Haughton, 1913, Pareiasaurus pulcher Broom, 1935

Milleretta rubidgei

Name

Milleretta rubidgei

Authority

(Broom, 1938) Broom, 1948

Meaning of generic name

Miller's little one

Meaning of specific name

[the one that belongs to Rubidge]

Size

Length: 60 cm

Remains

Complete skeletons

Age and Distribution

Cistecephalus zone, South Africa (Wuchiapingian)

Classification

Anapsida Parareptilia Millerettidae

Further Reading

C.E. Gow. 1972. The osteology and relationships of the Millerettidae (Reptilia: Cotylosauria). Journal of Zoology, London 167:219-264

Synonyms

Millerina rubidgei, Millerettoides platyceps, Millerettops kitchingi

Image by Tobu Namura (click to enlarge)

Milleretta rubidgei:

Kingoria nowacki

Name

Kingoria nowacki

Authority

(von Huene, 1942) Cox, 1959

Meaning of generic name

From the village of Kingori

Meaning of specific name

In honor of geologist E. Nowack

Size

Skull length: 15 cm Body Length: 60 cm

Remains

Several skulls and postcranial elements.

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Lower Bone-Bearing Series, Upper Permian (equivalent to Cistecephalus zone).

Locality: Ruhuhu Valley, Tanzania.

Classification

Anomonodontia Dicynodontia Diictodontia Kingoriidae

Further Reading

Cox, C. B., 1959. On the anatomy of a new dicynodont genus with evidence of the position of the tympanum. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 132: 32 1-367.

Synonyms

Dicynodon nowacki von Huene, 1942

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

Lycaenops

A number of species of Lycaenops have been described. The best known is L. ornatus from South Africa, the type species for which an almost complete skeleton has been excavated. L. angusticeps, also from South Africa is characterized by a long and slender snout. L. quadrata (formerly Dixeya quadrata) from Malawi is known from an incomplete skull, L. sollasi is only from a snout. L. attenuatus (= Aelurognathus cf serratidens) is known from an extremely laterelly compressed skull.

Lycaenops was a medium sized mammal-like reptile, probably reaching lengths of 1.7 meter. In geological terms Lycaenops only lived for a short time span during the late Permian. Note on the images to the side the nicely pointed canine teeth, these teeth would have been ideal for stabbing or tearing the flesh of prey that it may have come up against.

I

Name

Lycaenops ornatus

Authority

Broom, 1925

Meaning of generic name

Wolf face

Size

Length: 1.7 m, Skull length: 29 cm

Remains

Holotype (AMNH 2240): Nearly complete skeleton

Referred specimens: BPI 260, BPI 334, RC 147, RC 148

Age and Distribution

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

Locality: South Africa.

Classification

Synapsida Therapsida Gorgonopsia Gorgonopsidae

Further Reading

Broom, R., 1925, On some new Carnivorus therapsids: Records of the Albany Museum, v. 3, p. 309-326.

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.

Images of L. ornatus by Tobu Namura (click to enlarge)

version a:

version b:

II

Name

Lycaenops angusticeps

Authority

(Broom, 1913)

Size

Length: 2 m, Skull length: 30 cm

Remains

Holotype (AMNH 5537):

Referred specimens: AMNH 5535

Age and Distribution

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

Locality: South Africa.

Classification

Synapsida Therapsida Gorgonopsia Gorgonopsidae

Further Reading

Broom, R., 1913, On a nearly perfect skull of a new species of the gorgonopsia: Annals of the South African Museum, v. 12, part 1, p. 8-10.

Sigogneau, D., 1970. & Gebauer E., 2007. As above.

Synonyms

Scymnognathus minor Broom, 1913, Lycaenoides angusticeps Broom, 1925, Scymnognathus minor Broom, 1913

Gorgonops torvus

The genus contains up to 6 species with only one being well established, G. torvus. The others five are G. capensis (=Scylacops capensis, S. bigendens), G. dixeyi (=Chiwetasaurus dixeyi), G. eupachygnathus (= Leptotrachelus eupachygnathus, Scymnosuchus whaitsi), G. kaiseri (=Pachyrhinos kaiseri), G. whaitsi (=Scymnognathus whaitsi) with uncertain to dubious validity due to the poorly preserved state of their fossils.

Name

Gorgonops torvus

Authority

Owen, 1876

Meaning of generic name

Gorgon face

Size

Length: 1.2 m , Skull length: 22 cm

Remains

Holotype (BMNH R 1647):

Referred specimens: AMNH 5515, BPI 277, BPI 290, BPI 386, BPI 385, SAM 2671 (Type of G. longifrons)

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Tropidostoma and/or Cistecephalus Assemblage Zone, Beaufort Group, Upper Permian (Wuchiapingian).

Locality: Mildenhalls, Fort Beaufort, South Africa.

Classification

Synapsida Therapsida Gorgonopsia Gorgonopsidae

Further Reading

R. Broom. 1913. A revision of the reptiles of the Karroo. Annals of the South African Museum 7(6):361-366.

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

Gorgonops cf. whaitsi Sigogneau, 1970, Gorgonognathus longifrons Haughton, 1915, Gorgonops longifrons Haughton, 1915 in Sigogneau, 1970

Owenetta rubidgei

Name

Owenetta rubidgei

Authority

Broom, 1939

Size

Length: 25 cm

Remains

Several skulls

Age and Distribution

Permian Cistecephalus and Dicynodon Assemblage Zones of South Africa

Classification

Anapsida Procolomorpha Procolophonoidea Owenettidae

Further Reading

Reisz, R. R., and Laurin M., 1991, Owenetta and the origin of turtles: Nature, v. 349, p. 324-326