Wits Evolutionary Studies Institute (ESI)

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Author: search.filters.author.Gow, Chris EEnd date: 1999

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Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
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    The Triassic reptile Palacrodon browni Broom, synonymy and a new specimen
    (Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, 1999) Gow, Chris E
    Palacrodon browni Broom 1906 (=Fremouwsaurus geludens Gow 1992) is a small enigmatic diapsid reptile from the Cynognathus Assemblage Zone of South Africa and Antarctica whose dentition is very similar to that of coeval procolophonids.
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    Preliminary report of dinosaur tracks in Qwa Qwa, South Africa
    (Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, 1999) Gow, Chris E; Latimer, E M
    We record the presence of tridactyl dinosaur tracks preserved on a siltstone surface in a watercourse in a north eastern Free State game park.
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    The morphology and relationships of Youngina capensis Broom and Prolacerta broomi Parrington
    (Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, 1975) Gow, Chris E
    Comprehensive descriptions of the osteology of Youngina capensis Broom and Prolacerta broomi Parrington are presented. New details of the braincase of Proterosuchus fergusi Broom are given as these became necessary for comparative purposes. It is suggested that the initial radiation of sauropsid reptiles was a Permian event as yet poorly documented. The phylogenetic position of Youngina forward and backward in time cannot be narrowly defined, though certain characters seem specifically to preclude it from lizard ancestry. Prolacerta, on the basis of tooth implantation, braincase morphology and postcranial anatomy is shown to be closest to the proterosuchian thecodonts. It is very definitely not concerned with lizard origins, but would on available evidence seem to be a perfectly good ancestor for the middle Triassic forms Macrocnemus and Tanystropheus which latter must cease to be regarded as lizard ancestors. We have here a rather distinct reptilian lineage which branched off from common ancestral stock just prior to the advent of archosaurs.
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    New find of Diarthrognathus (Therapsida: Cynodontia) after seventy years
    (Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, 1994) Gow, Chris E
    Diarthrognathus is arguably South Africa's most famous therapsid fossil. Since its discovery seventy years ago no new material had come to light until now. This paper records the recovery, from the Elliot Formation of South Africa, of a partial left lower dentary with most of its dentition preserved.
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    An enigmatic new reptile from the Lower Triassic Fremouw Formation of Antarctica
    (Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, 1992) Gow, Chris E
    The partial skull of a new reptile from the Lower Triassic of Antarctica is described: It has a distinctive procolophon-like dentition, but other features suggest it is a diapsid. The name Fremouwsaurus geludens is proposed for the new animal. It is not possible to place the new form in any known higher taxon, so it is necessary to establish a new Family Fremouwsauridae to receive it.
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    Skulls of the prosauropod dinosaur Massospondylus carinatus Owen in the collections of the Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research
    (Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, 1990) Gow, Chris E; Kitching, James W; Raath, Michael A
    Description of the skull of Massospondylus (Prosauropoda, Anchisauridae) is largely unnecessary since excellent descriptions now exist of Plateosaurus (Galton 1984, 1985a) which, though larger and of slightly different proportions, is anatomically almost identical. This paper presents comprehensive illustrations of the Massospondylus skulls in the Bernard Price Institute collections and discusses only those aspects of this material in which Massospondylus differs from Plateosaurus, or which further add to our knowledge of the prosauropod skull. It is shown that Attridge et al. ( 1985) give spurious reasons for considering the recently discovered Massospondylus skull from Arizona to differ from the southern African taxon, and that the suggestion of Crompton and Attridge ( 1986) that this animal may have had a horny beak on the tip of the lower jaw is unnecessary and improbable.
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    Morphology and growth of the Massospondylus braincase (Dinosauria Prosauropoda)
    (Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, 1990) Gow, Chris E
    The almost complete disarticulated braincase of a young Massospondylus, and the partial braincase of a very large individual in which the laterosphenoid bones are preserved, are described.
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    A new skull of Megazostrodon (Mammalia, Triconodonta) from the Elliot Formation (Lower Jurassic) of Southern Africa
    (BERNARD PRICE INSTITUTE FOR PALAEONTOLOGICAL RESEARCH, 1986-06-30) Gow, Chris E
    A skull of Megazostrodon with atlas and axis in articulation is described. The dental formula is 14/4 C 1/1 Pm 5/5 M 5/5. Tooth wear is more advanced than in the type specimen and the lower molar series contains evidence of tooth replacement. The braincase differs remarkably from that of Morganucodon, the only contemporaneous triconodont in which the skull is adequately known. The lower jaw has an angular process similar to that of Dinnetherium. The earliest triconodonts appear to represent a modest radiation following the attainment of mammalian status.