Metriorhynchus

Metriorhynchus (meaning “moderate snout”) was an active predator probably preying on fish and smaller marine creatures, it likely spent most if not all of its life in the open ocean. It is estimated that Metriorhynchus may have been able to reach lengths of around 10 feet (3 metres).

It was first discovered in Germany, 1830. Remains of Metriorhynchus have been discovered at various localities across Europe and South America. In the U.K. specimens have been recovered from the famous Oxford clay and is composed of up to 5 different species, with M. superciliosus from the Callovian-Oxfordian, and M. durobrivensis from the Callovian, being the best known. Metriorhynchus also appeared in the Kimmeridgian.

Name

Metriorhynchus

Authority

von Meyer, 1830

Meaning of generic name

Moderate Snout

Meaning of specific names

durobrivensis=from Durobrivae. = Latin name for Roman period of Rochester (Latin later Roffa) Superciliosus=browey (supercilium=eye-brow, cilium=eye-lash)

Size

Length: 3 m

Remains

Several isolated bones, several complete skeletons

Age and Distribution

Callovian - Kimmeridgian, Europe, South America

Classification

Paracrocodylomorpha, Diapsida, Mesoeucrocodylia, Thatlattosuchia, Metriorhynchidae

Further Reading

Andrews CW. 1913. A descriptive catalogue of the marine reptiles of the Oxford Clay, Part Two. London: British Museum (Natural History), 206 pp.

Synonyms

Suchodus Lydekker, 1890 Purranisaurus Rusconi, 1948

Images by Nobu Tamura (click to enlarge)

Metriorhynchus superciliosus, January 15, 2007:

Same, December 7, 2008:

Parexus recurvus

Parexus is an extinct genus of acanthodian fish, the acanthodians are often referred to as ‘spiny sharks’ despite the fact acanthodians evolved perhaps 50 million years earlier than sharks. They share several features with bony fish and cartilaginous fish; they often have spines supporting their fins.

Parexus is recognised by its obscenely large anterior dorsal fin spine. Several fossils have been discovered from the Early (Lower) Devonian Period of Tillywhandland, Scotland. Besides P. recurvus, a second species, P. falcatus Powrie, 1870 also from Scotland has also been described.

Name

Parexus recurvus

Authority

Agassiz, 1845

Meaning of generic name

From Greek, parexis, a furnishing, or decoration

Meaning of specific name

curved (around itself or backwards) [and falcatus means "with a sickle"]

Size

Length: 15 cm

Remains

Articulated skeletons.

Age and Distribution

Lower Devonian, Tillywhandland, Scotland

Classification

Acanthodii Climatiiformes Climatiidae

Image by Nobu Tamura (click to enlarge)

Parexus recurvus, November 20, 2008:

Dakosaurus maximus

Dakosaurus (meaning "tearing lizard") is better known from the well publicized 1996 discovery of the Argentinian species, D. andiniensis, dubbed "Godzilla" in the press, but the first remains of this animal were actually found in Western Europe, including England, with the species D. maximus.

With an estimated length of up to 6 meters, Dakosaurus was the top predator of its time, feeding on large prey which might have included sharks, ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs. It had a relatively short skull compared to the other thalattosuchians, with jaws equipped with huge teeth ideal for crushing bones. Dakosaurus lived during the Kimmeridgian and Tithonian and was represented by four species: D. maximus, D. andiniensis, D. manselii, and D. nicaeensis.

Name

Dakosaurus maximus

Authority

von Quenstedt, 1856

Meaning of generic name

Tearing Lizard

Meaning of specific name

maximus = largest,

[andiniensis = from Andes, nicaeensis = from Nicea/Nice in Turkey or from Nice/Nizza in France, manselii = of Mansel ?]

Size

Length: 6 m

Remains

Several isolated bones, teeth,

Age and Distribution

Kimmeridgian - Tithonian, Europe, South America

Classification

Paracrocodylomorpha, Diapsida, Archsauromorpha, Mesoeucrocodylia, Thalattosuchia, Metriorhynchidae

Further Reading

P. Vignaud (1) ; Z. Gasparini 1996, New Dakosaurus (Crocodylomorpha, Thalattosuchia) in the Upper Jurassic of Argentina, Comptes rendus de l'Académie des sciences.vol. 322, no3, pp. 245-250 (11 ref.)

Other species

D. andiniensis, Vignaud & Gasparini, 1996 D. manselii, Hulke, 1870 and D. nicaeensis, Ambayrac, 1913.

Synonyms

Dacosaurus Sauvage, 1873 Plesiosuchus Owen, 1884

Image by Nobu Tamura (click to enlarge)

Dakosaurus maximus, December 12, 2008

Acanthodes bronii

Acanthodes is a genus of plankton feeding spiny sharks which was ubiquitous from the Early Carboniferous to the Early Permian. Fossils have been found throughough Europe and North Amrica. It had fewer spines than its other relatives such as Climatius. Many species of Acanthodes have been described: Acanthodes bourbonensis Heidtke, 1996 (Lower Permian of France); Acanthodes boyi Heidtke, 1993 (Lower Permian of Germany); Acanthodes bridgei Zidek, 1976 (Upper Carboniferous of Kansas); Acanthodes bronii Agassiz, 1833 (Lower Permian of Germany); Acanthodes fritschi Zajic, 1998 (Upper Carboniferous of Czech Republic); Acanthodes gracilis (Beyrich, 1848) (Lower Permian of Czech Republic, Poland and Germany); Acanthodes kinneyi Zidek, 1992 (Upper Carboniferous of New Mexico); Acanthodes lopatini Rohon, 1889 (Lower Carboniferous of southern Central Siberia, Russia); Acanthodes luedersensis (Dalquest et al., 1988) (Lower Permian of Texas); Acanthodes lundi Zidek, 1980 (Upper Carboniferous of Montana); Acanthodes nitidus Woodward, 1891 (Lower Carboniferous of Scotland); Acanthodes ovensi White, 1927 (Lower Carboniferous of Scotland); Acanthodes sippeli Heidtke, 1996 (Upper Carboniferous of Germany); Acanthodes stambergi Zajic, 2005 (Lower Permian of Czech Republic); Acantodes sulcatus Agassiz, 1835 (Lower Carboniferous of Scotland); Acanthodes tholeyi Heidtke, 1990 (Lower Permian of Germany); Acanthodes wardi Egerton, 1866 (Upper Carboniferous of England and Scotland).

Name

Acanthodes bronii

Authority

Agassiz, 1833

[Note: he was opposed to Darwin, while a botanist supported the latter.]

Size

Length: 30 cm

Remains

Complete fossils.

Age and Distribution

Early Permian, Rotliegend, Germany

Classification

Acanthodii Acanthodiformes Acanthodidae

Ichthyosaurus

Ichthyosaurus was the first ichthyosaur named and thus gave rise to the family name Ichthyosauridae. Ichthyosaurus like most ichthyosaurs is often misidentified as a 'swimming dinosaur', although ichthyosaurs were not dinosaurs they were marine reptiles, though superficially they resemble dolphins and sharks. Ichthyosaurus is one of the most commonly known marine reptiles in the U.K. (though tentative material has been assigned to the genus outside of the UK) especially I. communis, the most common of the Ichthyosaurus species. I. intermedius is a dubious species and currently a nomen dubium, it is largely based on a difference in tooth morphology, which has been disputed.

Fossilised gastric contents (stomach material) have even been discovered with ichthyosaur specimens, here the remnants of an ichthyosaur's last meal before it died can be found. The most common remains include tiny ‘hooks’; that belonged to squid (on their tentacles) and fish scales. However, fragments of bone and isolated teeth have also been discovered in ichthyosaur coprolites.

I

Name

Ichthyosaurus communis

Authority

Conybeare, 1822

Meaning of generic name

"Fish Lizard"

Meaning of specific name

The most common species of Ichthyosaurus

Size

Length: 8.2 ft (2.5 m) perhaps largest 3-5 m

Remains

Holotype lost Neotype: BMNH R1162 Almost complete skeleton at the BMNH London. Numerous complete and partial skeletons.

Age and Distribution

Horizon: (1)Schlotheimia angulata to Arnioceras semicostatum zones Blue Lias Formation Early Jurassic (Upper Hettangian - Lower Sinemurian) (2)Psiloceras planorbis zone Uppermost Triassic (Rhaetian) and Early Jurassic (Lower Hettangian) (3)Early Jurassic (Upper Sinemurian) (4) Beggingen Member Semicostatum zone Early Jurassic (Lower Sinemurian)

Locality: (1)Lyme Regis, Dorset (2)Street, Somerset (3)Belgian Lorraine (Belgium) (4)Canton Aargau Switzerland

Classification

Ichthyopterygia IchthyosauriaThunnosauria

Further Reading

McGowan, C. 1974. A revision of the Latipinnate ichthyosaurs of the Lower Jurassic of England. Life Sciences Contribution 100, Royal Ontario Museum, 30 pp.

Lomax, D. R. 2010. An Ichthyosaurus (Reptilia, Ichthyosauria) with gastric contents from Charmouth, England: First report of the genus from the Pliensbachian. Paludicola 8(1):22-36 September 2010 © by the Rochester Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology

Lydekker, R. 1889. Catalogue of the fossil Reptilia and Amphibia in the British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, S.W. Part II. Containing the Orders Ichthyopterygia and Sauropterygia. British Museum, Natural History), London.

Godefroit, P. 1995. Un crane d’ichthyosaurus communis (Reptilia, Ichthyosauria) du Sinemurian superieru de Lorrain Belge. Bulletin de la Société belge de Géologie 104:77-89.

Maisch, M. W., A. G. Reisdorf, R. Schlatter, and A. Wetzel 2008. A large skull of Ichthyosaurus (Reptilia, Ichthyosauria) from the Lower Sinemurian (Lower Jurassic) of Frick (NW Switzerland). Swiss Journal of Geoscience 101: 617-627.

Synonyms

Ichthyosaurus chiropolyostius, Hawkins 1834

Images by Nobu Tamura (click to enlarge)

Ichthyosaurus communis [March 1, 2009]:

[January 11, 2010]:

II

Name

Ichthyosaurus 'intermedius'

Authority

Conybeare, 1822

Meaning of specific name

intermediary

Size

Skull length: Less than 40 cm Length: 5.2 ft (1.6 m?)

Remains

Partial skeletons, of which some include skulls.

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Lower Jurassic (Hettangian or Sinemurian)

Locality: Lyme Regis, Dorset & Street, Somerset and possibly from the Lower Jurassic of Whitby

Further Reading

McGowan, C. 1974. & Lydekker, R. 1889. Ut supra.

Maisch, M. W. and A. T. Matzke 2000. The Ichthyosauria Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde Serie B (Geologie und Paläontologie) 298: 1-159.

Synonyms

Ichthyosaurus chiroparamecostius, Hawkins 1834

III

Name

Ichthyosaurus breviceps

Authority

Owen, 1881

Meaning of specific name

Named after the length of the skull?

[Actually ending -ceps means taking, so either stride with legs or bite, unless Latin has been remodelled here. Bite would be more appropriate for a fish like creature. And from image of Nobu Tamura it seems snout is considerably shorter]

Size

Length: 4.9 ft (1.5 m)

Remains

Holotype: BMNH 43006 A complete specimen. Several referable specimens including skull and post cranial material are assignable to this species.

["Are assignable"! What wisdom, not as "are actually definately assigned"!]

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Schlotheimia angulata to Arnioceras semicostatum zones Blue Lias Formation Early Jurassic (Upper Hettangian - Lower Sinemurian) & (Lower Sinemurian, Bucklandi Zone)

Locality: Lyme Regis, Dorset

Further Reading

McGowan, C. 1974. Ut supra.

Image by Nobu Tamura (click to enlarge)

Ichthyosaurus breviceps:

IV

Name

Ichthyosaurus conybeari

Authority

Lydekker, 1888

Meaning of specific name

Named after famous palaeontologist William Daniel Conybeare

Size

Length: 87 cm (2.8 ft)

Remains

Holotype: BGS GSM 956 A beautifully preserved, complete skeleton comprising a skull

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Schlotheimia angulata to Arnioceras semicostatum zones Blue Lias Formation Early Jurassic (Upper Hettangian - Lower Sinemurian)

Locality: Lyme Regis, Dorset U.K.

Further Reading

McGowan, C. 1974. Ut supra.

Creationist suspicion I

Ichthyosaurs, known to give birth to live offspring [from fossile also proving rapid burial], are dolphins - rejected by one expert I asked:

Correspondence de / of / van Hans-Georg Lundahl : Are Ichthyosauri Dolphins? I Asked Benjamin Moon
[of Bristol University, and one of the team behind the original palaeocritti site, see links in name of animal]
http://correspondentia-ioannis-georgii.blogspot.com/2013/12/are-ichthyosauri-dolphins-i-asked.html

Creationist suspicion II

Ichthyosaurus conybeari could be a juvenile of other species - supposing them to be really different ones.

Iguanadon

Iguanodon (meaning “iguana-tooth”) was a large ornithopod dinosaur. Iguanodon was a very bulky animal and was a herbivore. Iguanodon could reach up to lengths of around 33 feet (10 metres). There are several species of Iguanodon but the most prominent of these species is Iguanodon bernissartensis. This species has been discovered across Europe and has been primarily found on the Isle of Wight, it is found in the Wessex formation. Iguanodon lived in the early part of the Cretaceous Period.

Iguanodon was the second dinosaur formally named, after Megalosaurus. Iguanodon teeth are, as the name suggests, similar an iguana, but larger. Unlike hadrosaurids, which had columns of replacement teeth, Iguanodon only had one replacement tooth at a time for each position.

The largest find of Iguanodon remains to date was discovered in 1878 in a coal mine at Bernissart in Belgium; at a depth of 1056 feet (322 metres), at least 38 individual skeletons were found, most of which were adults. This amount of Iguanodon remains is quite significant but in comparison to today’s animals that roam the plains such as the herds of gazelle or zebra which reach thousands in groups, this seems a small amount.

It was first discovered in 1822 in Sussex and described three years later by English geologist Dr Gideon Mantell. It had a spike on each thumb which may have been used for defence, this thumb spike was one of the most distinctive features of Iguanodon. The spike was originally thought to have been a nose spike similar to today’s living rhinoceros. In London at the Crystal Palace park you can see the interpretation of what Mantell believed Iguanodon may have looked like when alive because there are several concrete statues of Iguanodon and this includes the thumb spike portrayed on the nose. Iguanodon is also posed as quadrupedal and was believed to have just waked on all four but this was changed to believing that Iguanodon walked on two legs, it is now widely accepted that Iguanodon could shift from bipedality to quadrupedality. Many footprints and track ways have been discovered of Iguanodon.

Name

Iguanodon bernissartensis

Authority

Iguanodon, Mantell (1825) bernissartensis, Boulenger (1881)

Meaning of generic name

Iguana Tooth

Meaning of specific name

From Bernissart

Size

Length: 10 m

Remains

Several articulated and associated skeletons, several skulls, teeth and isolated bones

Age and Distribution

Wessex Formation (Barremian-Aptian), Isle of Wight, England. (Aptian), Bernissart, Belgium.

Classification

Dinosauria Ornithischia Cerapoda Ornithopoda Iguanodontidae

Further Reading

Naish, Darren; David M. Martill (2001). "Ornithopod dinosaurs". Dinosaurs of the Isle of Wight. London: The Palaeontological Association. pp. 60–132.

Images by Nobu Tamura (click to enlarge):

Iguanodon bernissartensis [from January 27, 2013]:

[from July 20, 2011]:

Cetotherium

The modest sized Cetotherium was a primitive baleen whale that lived during the middle to late Miocene epoch (15 MYA) of the Neogene Period. This whale genus is known from several individual species, perhaps as many as 10, that have been found in the USA, across Europe and Russia. When compared with their modern counter parts (e.g. humpback whales), their sizes were much smaller 2-4 metres.

I

Name

Cetotherium rathkii

Authority

Brandt, 1843

Meaning of generic name

'Whale Beast'

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Middle Miocene (Serravallian).

Locality: Taman peninsula, Russia.

Classification

Mammalia Cetacea Mysticeti Cetotheriidae.

Further Reading

J. F. Brandt. 1843. De cetotherio, novo balaenarum familiae genre in Rossia Meridionali ante aliquot annos effoso. Bulletin de La Classe Physico-Mathématique de L'Académie Impérial des Sciences de Saint Pétersberg 1(10-12):145-148.

Synonyms

Cetotherium rathkei

II

Name

Cetotherium priscum

Authority

(Eichwald, 1840)

Meaning of specific name

Early

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Upper Middle Miocene (Sarmatian, Serravallian).

Locality: Kertsch, Ukraine.

Also: Austria (Szentmargita, Leitha Limestone Formation, Langhian); Moldova (Chisinau, Serravalian); Romania (Madulari, Serravalian); Russia (Kutsay Mountain, Serravallian); Turkey (Kurtchu-Tchekmedje, Up. Miocene).

Classification

Mammalia Cetacea Mysticeti Cetotheriidae.

Further Reading

C. E. Eichwald. 1840. Bescrieibung einiger Knocken des Ziphius priscus. Die Urwelt Russlands 2:25-53.

Synonyms

Choneziphius priscus, Plesiocetus priscus, Ziphius priscus

III

Name

Cetotherium pusillum

Authority

Nordmann, 1860

Meaning of specific name

weeny small

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Middle Miocene (Serravallian).

Locality: Chisinau, Moldova.

Classification

Mammalia Cetacea Mysticeti Cetotheriidae.

Further Reading

A. Nordmann. 1860. Palaentologie Sudresslands 1-360.

IV

Name

Cetotherium ambiguum

Authority

Brandt, 1873

Meaning of specific name

ambiguous

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Late Middle Miocene (Sarmatian, Serravallian).

Locality: Nussdorf, Austria.

Further Reading

J. F. Brandt. 1873. Untersuchungen über die fossilen und subfossilen cetaceen Europa's. Mémoires de L'Académie Impériale des Sciences de Saint-Petersbourg, Series 7 20(1):1-372.

V

Name

Cetotherium crassangulum

Authority

Cope, 1895

Meaning of specific name

of thick angles

Remains

Holotype (USNM 8517): a skull

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Yorktown Formation. Pliocene.

Locality: City Point, Virginia.

Further Reading

E. D. Cope. 1895. Fourth contribution to the marine fauna of the Miocene period of the United States. Proceedings of the American Philosphical Society 34:135-155.

VI

Name

Cetotherium furlongi

Authority

Kellogg, 1925

Meaning of specific name

"of a furlong" [not likely unless exaggeration] or "of Furlong" [whoever that was]

Remains

Holotype (USNM 26521): partial skeleton

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Vaqueros Formation. Early Miocene (Burdigalian).

Locality: Stone Canyon, California.

Further Reading

R. Kellogg. 1925. Fossil cetotheres from California. Contributions to Palaeontology from the Carnegie Institution of Washington (2)35-56 .

Image by Nobu Tamura (click to enlarge)

"Cetotherium furlongi" (but I think it is a whale):

VII

Name

Cetotherium klinderi

Authority

Brandt, 1871

Meaning of specific name

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Late Middle Miocene (Sarmatian, Serravallian).

Locality: Mykolayiv, Ukraine.

Further Reading

J. F. Brandt. 1871. Bericht uber den Fortgang meiner Studien uber di Cetaceen, welche das grosse zur Tertiarzeit von Mitteleuropa bis Centralasien hinein ausgedehnte Meeresbechen bevolkerten. Bulletin de l'Academie Imperiale de St. Petersbourg 1871:563-566 .

[In proper German the words would read: Bericht über den Fortgang meiner Studien über die Cetaceen, welche das große zur Tertiarzeit von Mitteleuropa bis Centralasien hinein ausgedehnte Meeresbecken bevölkerten. Perhaps the printer in St. Petersbourg was short of German letter types?]

VIII

Name

Cetotherium maicopicum

Authority

Spasski, 1951

Meaning of specific name

from Maikop

Remains

Holotype (IBP S144, S131, S142, S154, S125, S126, S128, S130):partial skeleton

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Late Middle Miocene (Sarmatian, Serravallian).

Locality: River Belaia, Russia.

Further Reading

P. I. Spasski. 1951. Ostaki tsetoheriev iz Servernogo Kavkaza (okr. g. Maikopa) [Remains of cetotheria from the Northern Caucasus in the neighborhood of Maikop Town.] Izvestia Akademii Nauk Azerbaidzhanskoi SSR 2:57-65.

IX

Name

Cetotherium mayeri

Authority

Brandt, 1871

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Late Middle Miocene (Sarmatian, Serravallian).

Locality: Russia (River Belaia, Derbent, Kuban) and Georgia.

Further Reading

J. F. Brandt. 1871. Bericht uber den Fortgang meiner Studien uber di Cetaceen, welche das grosse zur Tertiarzeit von Mitteleuropa bis Centralasien hinein ausgedehnte Meeresbechen bevolkerten. Bulletin de l'Academie Imperiale de St. Petersbourg 1871:563-566 . [For correct linguistic form of title, see above]

A. N. Riabinin. 1934. New contributions to the osteology of Cetotherium mayeri Brandt, from the Upper Sarmatian of the North Caucasus. Transactions of the United Geological and Prospecting Service of USSR 350:1-15.

X

Name

Cetotherium parvum

Authority

Trouessart, 1898

Meaning of specific name

small

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Saint Marys Formation. Late Miocene (Tortonian).

Locality: Drum Point, Calvert County, Maryland, US.

Also: Charles County, Maryland, US (Calvert Formation, Serravallian)

Further Reading

E. L. Trouessart. 1898. Catalogus mammalium tam viventium quam fossilum 5:665-1264.

Synonyms

Cetotherium pusillum Cope 1868, Delphinapterus tyrannus Cope 1868

I- X, Creationist comment:

What if they are just plain old whales?

Dromomeron romeri

Although a partial articulated skeleton is known, Dromomeron was mainly described through a femur. Much attention came from the fact that remains of this little bipedal animal have been found among those of dinosaurs indicating that the latter did not immediately replace their archosaurian relatives as previously thought. A second species of Dromomeron, D. gregorii has been recently (2009) described based on femurs from the Otis Chalk Quarry 3, Texas and the Placerias Quarry is near St. Johns, Arizona.

Name

Dromomeron romeri

Authority

Irmis, Nesbitt, Padian, Smith, Turner, Woody and Downs, 2007

Meaning of generic name

Running Femur

Size

Length: 1 m

Remains

Partial articulated skeleton and many femurs

Age and Distribution

Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, USA, lower portion of the Petrified Forest Member of the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation (Norian)

Classification

Dinosauromorpha Lagerpetidae

Further Reading

Irmis, R. B., S. J. Nesbitt, K. Padian, N. D. Smith, A. H. Turner, D. Woody, and A. Downs. 2007. A Late Triassic dinosauromorph assemblage from New Mexico and the rise of dinosaurs. Science 317:358–361.

S. J. Nesbitt, R. B. Irmis, W. G. Parker, N. D. Smith, A. H. Turner and T. Rowe. 2009. Hindlimb osteology and distribution of basal dinosauromorphs from the Late Triassic of North America. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 29(2):498-516

Image by Nobu Tamura (click to enlarge)

Dromomeron romeri:

Tupuxuara

Tupuxuara is a crested and toothless genus of pterosaur from the Early Cretaceous of Brazil. Three species have been recognized, all from the same Santana Formation: T. longicristatus, T. leonardii and T. deliradamus. Females and males have slightly different crest indicating sexual dimorphism and is a mark of adulthood as juveniles are crestless (Martill & Naish, 2006). Tupuxuara, judging by the wing wing proportions and the general environment where it lived, as well as the lack of any adaptations to piscivory, was most likely a terrestrial generalist, much like other azhdarchids and modern secretary birds and seriemas.

I

Name

Tupuxuara longicristatus

Authority

Kellner & Campos, 1988

Meaning of generic name

"Familiar spirit" — A name in Tupi Indian mythology

[or perhaps rather magic]

Meaning of specific name

long crested

Size

[not given]

Remains

Partial skeleton.

Age and Distribution

Romualdo Member, Santana Formation (Early Cretaceous, Albian) Ceará, Brazil.

Classification

Pterosauria Pterodactyloidea Azhdarchoidea

Further Reading

Kellner, A. W. A. & Campos, D. A. 1988, Sobre un novo pterossauro com crista sagital da Bacia do Araripe, Cretaceo Inferior do Nordeste do Brasil. (Pterosauria, Tupuxuara, Cretaceo, Brasil) Anais de Academia Brasileira de Ciências, 60, 459–469.

II

Name

Tupuxuara leonardii

Authority

Kellner & Campos, 1994

Meaning of specific name

(in honour of) Leonardi

Size

Skull length: 900 mm, Wingspan: 4.5 m

Remains

Partial skeletons including a complete skull.

Age and Distribution

Romualdo Member, Santana Formation (Early Cretaceous, Albian) Ceará, Brazil.

Classification

Pterosauria Pterodactyloidea Azhdarchoidea

Further Reading

Kellner, A. W. A. & Campos, D. A. 1994, A new species of Tupuxuara (Pterosauria, Tapejaridae) from the Early Cretaceous of Brazil. An. Acad. Brasil. Ciênc. 66, 467–473.

III

Name

Tupuxuara deliradamus

Authority

Witton, 2009

Size

Skull length: 850 mm

Remains

Two partial skulls.

Age and Distribution

Romualdo Member, Santana Formation (Early Cretaceous, Albian) Ceará, Brazil.

Classification

Pterosauria Pterodactyloidea Azhdarchoidea

Further Reading

Witton, M.P. 2009. A new species of Tupuxuara (Thalassodromidae, Azhdarchoidea) from the Lower Cretaceous Santana Formation of Brazil, with a note on the nomenclature of Thalassodromidae. Cretaceous Research.

I - III ?

Further reference:

Martill, D. M. & Naish, D. 2006. Cranial crest development in the azhdarchoid pterosaur Tupuxuara, with a review of the genus and tapejarid monophyly. Palaeontology 49, 925-941.

Tapejara

Tapejara is a toothless crested pterosaur from the Early Cretaceous of Brazil. There were originally 3 species assigned to the genus, but today, only one species is recognized, T. wellnhoferi. The species T. imperator was transferred to the genus Tupandactylus, while the species T. navigans is waiting to receive a new generic name.

I

Name

Tapejara wellnhoferi

Authority

Kellner, 1989

Meaning of generic name

"Ancient being" — A name in Tupi Indian mythology

Size

Skull length: 250 mm, Wingspan: 1.5 m

Remains

Several partial skeletons.

Age and Distribution

Romualdo Member, Santana Formation (Early Cretaceous, Aptian-Albian) Ceará, Brazil.

Classification

Pterosauria Pterodactyloidea Azhdarchoidea Tapejaridae

Further Reading

Kellner A. W. A. 1989, A new edentate pterosaur of the Lower Cretaceous from the Araripe Basin, Northeast Brazil, Anais de Academia Brasileira de Ciencias, 61:439-446.

Wellnhofer, P. & Kellner, A. W. A. 1991, The skull of Tapejara wellnhoferi Kellner (Reptilia: Pterosauria) from the Lower Cretaceous Santana Formation of the Araripe Basin, Northeastern Brazil. Mitt. bayer. Staatsslg Paläont. hist. Geol.31, 89–106.

II

Name

"Tapejara" navigans

Authority

Frey, Martill & Buchy, 2003

Size

Skull length: 240 mm, Wingspan: ?1.5 m

Remains

Complete skull.

Age and Distribution

Nova Olinda Member, Crato Formation (Early Cretaceous, Aptian) Ceará, Brazil.

Classification

Pterosauria Pterodactyloidea Azhdarchoidea

Further Reading

Frey, E., Martill, D., M., and Buchy, C. C., 2003, A new species of tapejarid pterosaur with soft tissue head crest: In: Evolution and Palaeobiology of Pterosaurs, edited by Buffetaut, E., and Mazin, J.-M., Geological Society Special Publication, n. 217, p. 65-72.

Synonyms

Ingridia navigans (Frey, Martill & Buchy, 2003) Unwin and Martill, 2007

Images by Nobu Tamura (click to enlarge):

Tapejara wellnhoferi:

"Tapejara" navigans/Tupandactylus navigans:

Confer also

Tupandactylus imperator

Ornithocheirus

The name Ornithocheirus ("Bird hand") was coined by paleontologist Harry G. Seeley in 1869 to describe a number of pterosaurs fragmentary bones found in the Early Cretaceous Cambridge Greensand, England. He placed the different pieces up to 28 species of Ornithocheirus. Since then, the genus has become a terrible wastebasket taxon with over 40 species described from fragmentary fossils from the Early Cretaceous of Europe (England, France, Czech Republic) and South America (Brazil).

To add to the confusion, several species were transfered to a number of different genera including Criorhynchus, Coloborhynchus, Lonchodectes, Anhanghera and Tropeognathus. At the end, it is possible that none of the numerous species of Ornithocheirus is valid. A generic portrait of Ornithocheirus described it as a medium to large size pterosaur with a wingspan of 4 to meters. characterized by a long narrow and toothed jaws with a crest on top of the anterior portion of the snout.

Name

Ornithocheirus simus, mesembrinus

Authority

simus (Seeley, 1869)
mesembrinus (Wellnhofer, 1987)

Meaning of generic name

Bird Hand

Size

Wingspan: 2.5 m

Remains

Several jaw fragments, fragmentary skeletons and isolated bones and teeth.

Age and Distribution

Upper Cretaceous Greensand Formation (Cenomanian), Cambridge, England.

Upper Cretaceous Santana Formation (Cenomanian), Brazil.

Classification

Pterosauria Pterodactyloidea Ornithocheiridae

Further Reading

Unwin, David M. (2006). The Pterosaurs: From Deep Time. New York: Pi Press. pp. 246.

Image by Nobu Tamura (click to enlarge):

Ornithocheirus simus:

Coloborhynchus clavirostris

Coloborhynchus as like many pterosaurs had an elongated skull. Crammed full of sharp pointed teeth, it also had smaller teeth protruding forward from the front of the jaw, this probably helped to hold the pterosaurs prey so that it could transport the fish further towards the throat.

Coloborhynchus had a small crest protruding from the snout region of the skull. Coloborhynchus has been found in the lower Cretaceous and from localities in Europe, South America and North America, multiple species have been described. Coloborhynchus is known mostly from fragmentary remains, including sections of the skull and teeth. Coloborhynchus remains have been found from the lower Cretaceous period, Albian stage of the Cambridge Greensand of England.

Name

Coloborhynchus clavirostris

Authority

clavirostris (Owen 1874) - BMNH:Holotype
araripensis (Veldmeijer 2003)
spielbergi (Veldmeijer 2003)
piscator (Veldmeijer 2003)

Meaning of generic name

Maimed Beak

Meaning of specific name

Key Snout

Size

Wingspan: 3 m

Remains

Fragmentary remains, include several teeth, isolated and associated bones, skulls and partial skeleton

Age and Distribution

Lower Cretaceous Greensand Formation (Albian), Cambridge, England.

Lower Cretaceous Santana Formation (Cenomanian), Brazil.

Classification

Pterosauria Pterodactyloidea Ornithocheiroidea Ornithocheiridae

Further Reading

A.J. Veldmeijer, H.J.M. Meijer and M. Signore. Coloborhynchus from the Lower Cretaceous Santana Formation, Brazil (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea, Anhangueridae); an update. Journal of vertebrate palaeontology, 3, 2, (2006)

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

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.

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

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

Dinogorgon

Dinogorgon is a poorly defined genus of saber-toothed gorgonopsids from South Africa and Tanzania. The type species, D. rubidgei, is only known from a fragment of snout and is undiagnosable making it a probable nomen dubium. The other two species are known from relatively well preserved skulls which are very similar in appearance to Rubidgea and it is possible that the two genera are in fact synonyms. I Name Dinogorgon rubidgei Authority Broom, 1936 Meaning of generic name Terrible gorgon Size Skull length: 32 cm ,Length: 2 m? Remains Holotype (RC 1): snout Age and Distribution Horizon: Cistecephalus-Dicynodon assemblage zone, Beaufort group, Upper Permian (Wuchiapingian). Type locality: Karoo basin, South Africa. Classification Synapsida Therapsida Gorgonopsia Gorgonopsidae Rubidgeinae Further Reading Broom, R., 1936, On some new genera and species of Karroo fossil Reptiles, with notes on some others: Annals of the Transvaal Museum, v. 18, part 4, p. 349-386. 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.

Image of D. rubidgei by Nobu Tamura (click to enlarge) Dinogorgon rubidgei:

II Name Dinogorgon quinquemolaris Authority von Huene, 1950 Size Skull length: 41 cm ,Length: 2.2 m? Remains Holotype (GPIT/RE/3430): nearly complete skull Referred specimen: RC 103 (nearly complete skull. Holotype of D. oudebergensis) Age and Distribution Horizon: Upper Permian Locality: Tanzania and South Africa. Classification Synapsida Therapsida Gorgonopsia Gorgonopsidae Rubidgeinae 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 and Gebauer E., 2007 as above. Synonyms Dinogorgon oudebergensis Brink & Kitching, 1953 III Name Dinogorgon pricei Authority (Broom & George, 1950) Size Skull length: 32 cm ,Length: 1.7 m? Remains Holotype (BPI 225): incomplete skull Age and Distribution Horizon: Cistecephalus-Dicynodon assemblage zone, Beaufort group, Upper Permian (Wuchiapingian). Type locality: Karoo basin, South Africa. Classification Synapsida Therapsida Gorgonopsia Gorgonopsidae Rubidgeinae Further Reading Broom, R., and George, M., 1950, Two new gorgonopsians genera from the Bernard Price collections: South African Journal of Science, v. 46, n. 6, p. 188-190. Sigogneau, D., 1970 and Gebauer E., 2007 as above. Synonyms Tigrisaurus pricei Broom & George, 1950

Clelandina

This little gorgonopsid with a stocky built is characterized by an extremely broad skull with a short snout. It has been suggested to be congeneric with Broomicephalus. Two species, C. rubidgei and C. scheepersi have been described.

I Name

Clelandina rubidgei

Authority

Broom, 1948

Size

Skull length: 21 cm ,Length: 1.1 m?

Remains

Holotype (RC 57): flattened and incomplete skull

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Cistecephalus assemblage zone, Beaufort group, Upper Permian (Wuchiapingian).

Type locality: Karoo basin, South Africa.

Classification

Synapsida Therapsida Gorgonopsia Gorgonopsidae Rubidgeinae

Further Reading

Broom, R., 1948, A contribution to our knowledge of the vertebrates of the Karroo beds of south Africa: Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, v. 61, part 2, n. 21, p. 577-629.

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.

II Name

Clelandina scheepersi

Authority

(Brink & Kitching, 1953)

Size

Skull length: 19 cm ,Length: 1 m?

Remains

Holotype (RC 102): distorted skull

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Cistecephalus assemblage zone, Beaufort group, Upper Permian (Wuchiapingian).

Type locality: Karoo basin, South Africa.

Classification

Synapsida Therapsida Gorgonopsia Gorgonopsidae

Further Reading

Brink, A. S., and Kitching, J. W., 1953, Studies on new specimens of Gorgonopsia: Palaeontographica africana, v. 1, p. 1-28.

Sigogneau, D., 1970 and Gebauer E., 2007 as above.

Synonyms

Dracocephalus scheepersi Brink & Kitching, 1953

Arctognathus

Arctognathus is a small gorgonopsid characterized by a short and rounded snout. Two species, A. curvimola and A. breviceps are currently recognized with two other more questionable ones, A. cookei and A. nasuta. I Name Arctognathus curvimola Authority (Owen, 1876) Broom, 1911 Meaning of generic name Bear jaw Size Skull length: 18 cm ,Length: 1.1 m? Remains Holotype (BMNH 47339): badly preserved skull Referred specimens: SAM 3329 (skull, holotype of Lycaenodontoides bathyrhinus); BPI 174 (skull, holotype of Lycaenops pricei) Age and Distribution Horizon: Cistecephalus assemblage zone, Beaufort group, Upper Permian (Wuchiapingian). Type locality: Karoo basin, South Africa. Classification Synapsida Therapsida Gorgonopsia Gorgonopsidae Further Reading Broom, R., 1911. On some New South African Permian Reptiles: Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1911, p. 1073-1082. 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 Lycosaurus curvimola Owen, 1876; Aelurosaurus curvimola (Owen, 1876); Lycaenodontoides bathyrhinus Haughton, 1929; Lycaenops pricei Broom & Robinson, 1948

A. curvimola, image by Nobu Tamura (click to enlarge)

II Name Arctognathus breviceps Authority (Boonstra, 1934) Size Skull length: ,Length: Remains Holotype (SAM 9345): skull Age and Distribution Horizon: Cistecephalus assemblage zone, Beaufort group, Upper Permian (Wuchiapingian). Type locality: Karoo basin, South Africa. Classification Synapsida Therapsida Gorgonopsia Gorgonopsidae Further Reading Boonstra, L. D., 1934. A contribution to the morphology of the gorgonopsia: Annual of the South African Museum, v. 31, part 2, p. 137-174. Gebauer E., 2007. As above. Synonyms Arctognathoides breviceps Boonstra, 1934