Cranial morphology and phylogenetic analysis of Cynosaurus suppostus (Therapsida, Cynodontia) from the upper Permian of the Karoo Basin, South Africa
Date
2018-03
Authors
van den Brandt, Marc
Abdala, Fernando
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Evolutionary Studies Institute
Abstract
Non-mammaliaform cynodonts are an important fossil lineage which include the ancestors of mammals and which illustrate the
gradual evolution of mammalian characteristics. The earliest cynodonts (‘basal cynodonts’) are known from the late Permian.
Cynosaurus suppostus is the second most abundant basal cynodont from the late Permian of the Karoo Basin of SouthAfrica, but is poorly
studied, with the most recent description of this taxon being 50 years old. Since then, several important new specimens of this species
have been collected, meriting a thorough description of its cranial anatomy and exploration of its interspecific variation. Here we
present a comprehensive description of the cranial morphology of Cynosaurus suppostus, producing an updated diagnosis for the
species and comparisons amongst basal cynodonts. Cynosaurus is identified by three autapomorphies amongst basal cynodonts: a
subvertical mentum on the anterior lower jaw; a robust mandible with a relatively high horizontal ramus; and the broadest snout across
the canine region, representing up to 31.74% of basal skull length. One of the new specimens described here preserves orbital scleral
ossicles, structures rarely preserved in non-mammaliaform cynodonts. Cynosaurus is now only the third cynodont in which scleral
ossicles have been reported.Anupdated phylogenetic analysis of basal cynodont interrelationships recovered Cynosaurus suppostus as a
member of the Galesauridae in only two of 16 most parsimonious trees, providing poor support for its inclusion in that family. The
majority of known Cynosaurus specimens were collected in a geographically restricted area approximately 150 kilometres in diameter.
Most specimens have been recovered from the latest Permian Daptocephalus Assemblage Zone, with only two specimens known from
the older Cistecephalus Assemblage Zone.
Description
Keywords
Cynodontia, late Permian, Karoo Basin, South Africa