Rubidgea

Several species of Rubidgea has been described but they all turn out to be synonym or transferred to a different genus (ex: Broomicephalus), with only R. atrox remaining valid. However, in a 2007 study, E. Gebauer transferred the genera Dinogorgon and Tigrisaurus to Rubidgea, adding two new species, R. quinquemolaris (described on the Dinogorgon page) and R. pricei.

Name

Rubidgea atrox

Authority

Broom, 1948

Size

Length: 2.4 m, Skull length: 46 cm

Remains

Holotype (RC 13): skull

Referred specimens: BPI 248 (Type of R. platyrhina); BPI 246 (Type of R. majora)

Age and Distribution

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

Locality: 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.

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

Sigogneau-Russell, D., 1989, Theriodontia I, Phthinosuchia, Biarmosuchia, Eotitanosuchia, Gorgonopsia: Handbuch der Palaoherpetologie, Teil 17 B/I, 127pp.

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

Rubidgea platyrhina Brink & Kitching, 1953, Rubidgea majora Brink & Kitching, 1953

Image by Nobu Tamura (click to enlarge)

Rubidgea atrox: