Monday 25 November 2013

Herpetoskylax hopsoni

Formerly referred as specimens of Rubidginia sp., Herpetoskylax is based on two well preserved skulls from the Late Permian of South Africa. It is a primitive therapsid related to Biarmosuchus.

Name
Herpetoskylax hopsoni
Authority
Sidor & Rubidge, 2003
Meaning of generic name
Creeping young dog
Size
Skull length: 13 cm, Length: ? 1 m
Remains
Holotype (CGP/1/67): nearly complete skull and lower jaws.

Referred materials: BP/1/3294 (distorted skull and lower jaws).
Age and Distribution
Horizon: Cistecephalus assemblage zone, Teekloof formation, Beaufort Group, Upper Permian (Wuchianpingian).

Type locality: Matjiesfontein farm, beaufort West District, Western Cape Province, South Africa.
Classification
Synapsida Therapsida Biarmosuchia Ictidorhinidae
Further Reading
Sidor, C. A., and B. S. Rubidge. 2006. Herpetoskylax hopsoni, a new biarmosuchian (Therapsida: Biarmosuchia) from the Beaufort Group of South Africa; pp. 76–113 in M. T. Carrano, T. Gaudin, R. Blob, and J. Wible (eds.), Amniote Paleobiology: Perspectives on the Evolution of Mammals, Birds, and Reptiles. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois.

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