Palaeontologia africana
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ISSN (print): 0078-8554
ISSN (electronic): 2410-4418
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Item Dentition and feeding niche of Endothiodon (Synapsida; Anomodontia).(Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, 1995) Latimer, E. M.; Gow, C. E.; Rubidge, B. S.The cranial morphology and extensive dentition of the dicynodont therapsid Endothiodon are different from those of any other dicynodont and it clearly had a different feeding niche. Recently prepared material from Mozambique which has relatively well preserved dentition has revealed that the mode of tooth replacement of Endothiodon differs in the upper and lower jaws. The very high and narrow vaulted palate with a close fitting, pointed lower jaw indicates that Endothiodon had a small mouth with muscular cheeks and extensive cheek pouches, suggesting a browsing feeding niche.Item Faunal remains from Hot Pot Cave, Bredasdorp(Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, 1980) Gow, C. E.Recent unconsolidated cave deposits can be useful in providing an understanding of how consolidated fossil cave deposits were formed and are far easier and quicker to analyse. This preliminary study describes an extensive, extremely rich bone accumulation in a horizontal cave system linked to the surface by a single verticaI shaft from the middle of a domed chamber. The cave is in Tertiary marine limestone on the southwestern Cape coast. The fauna has two chief components: a macrofauna resulting from entirely fortuitous introductions such as animals falling down the shaft; and an extensive microfauna accumulated by the barn owl, Tyto alba. Between these two groups there is a very small range of possible overlap. The macrofauna contains a mixture of wild and domestic animals, herbivores and predators with sizes ranging from hare to buffalo. The microfauna is closely packed in a black organic-rich soil of predominantly dust sized particles. A feature of this soil is the vast number of tiny terrestrial snail shells it contains. The deposit represents continuous accumulation over several hundred years at least. Seeds, pollen and carbonised wood are present in the undisturbed deposit so that sequential dating will be possible. By contrast, recognisable insect cuticle is virtually absent though dung beetles, for example, are frequently seen in surface solution cavities and must fall into the cave in fair numbers. Alignment of microfauna! longbones within the deposit is horizontal and parallel to the passage walls, so it is clear that the material was distributed by stream action. Much of the fauna has a wide geographic range, but throughout there are elements either endemic to the southern Cape or indicative of the prevailing vegetation type.Item Evidence for salt glands in the Triassic reptile Diademodon (Therapsida; Cynodontia)(Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, 1979) Grine, F. E.; Mitchell, D.; Gow, C. E.; Kitching, J. W.; Turner, B. R.;Fossilised skulls of Diademodon exhibit rostral depressions which may have housed salt glands. The possible functions of salt glands in this advanced cynodont are examined. Diademodon appears to have been more reptilian than mammalian in its general physiological organisation.Item An articulated skeleton of a small individual of Diademodon (Therapsida; Cynodontia)(Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, 1979) Gow, C. E.; Grine, F. E.;This paper records a nearly complete, articulated skeleton of Diademodan in undoubted association with a skull of that animal. Previously, only portions of postcranial skeleton have been found in association with cranial remains of this genus. The skeleton is that of a relatively small (ontogenetically young) individual. Skeletal proportions are tabulated, rib and vertebral differentiation is described and discussed. Diademodon is shown to have had a long tail.Item The advent of herbivory in certain reptilian lineages during the Triassic(Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, 1978) Gow, C. E.The dentitions of several presumed herbivorous Triassic reptiles are described and discussed. Some changes in dentitions with growth suggest that juveniles were insectivorous. The appearance of these forms may have been facilitated by floral changes which took place in the early Triassic.Item Fossil vertebrate studies in Rhodesia: sphenodontid remains from the upper Trias of Rhodesia(Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, 1977) Gow, C. E.Small sphenodontid rhynchocephalians are known from the upper Trias in Britain (Robinson, 1973). This paper records for the first time the presence of sphenodontids of very similar age, size, and morphology from the Upper Trias of Rhodesia.Item On a supposed skin impression of Procolophon(Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, 1977) Gow, C. E.Van Heerden (1974) described and figured what he took to be an impression of the skin of Procolophon found with a typical assemblage of natural moulds of that animal. The stereophotographs in his Plate 4 seemed, however, to show sutures and the impressions of a few tiny sharp pointed teeth. Examination of the original shows that this is indeed the case. The accompanying explanatory sketch (fig. 1), which may be read in conjunction with Van Heerden's published photographs, shows that the pattern of dermal bones is typically amphibian and quite unlike that of Procolophon, as too are the teeth. The conclusion is reached that the specimen (QR 1597) shows normal bones of the skull and is not a skin impression.Item Owenetta in perspective(Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, 1977) Gow, C. E.This paper adds detail to the existing description of the small procolophonid Owenetta rubidgei Broom. The relationships of this animal are assessed with reference to other South African procolophonids and pareiasaurs. All are broadly related but a mosaic of characters precludes any direct phyletic relationships.Item The anterior of the palate in Euparkeria(Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, 1970) Gow, C. E.Ewer (1965) has given a careful and comprehensive description of the anatomy of the thecodont Euparkeria, but erred if anything on the side of caution in her preparation of the material. This is a commendable approach, but it has meant that certain details remained unknown. Recently Cruickshank (1970) has redescribed and reinterpreted the braincase as being surprisingly primitive. The present author's current interest lies in the origin of the lizards, and this necessarily implies an interest in Archosaur origins. In this regard an important element of the skull is the vomer; this will become apparent when recently completed work on the Millerosauria is published (Gow 1971). The important feature is the nature and disposition of vomerine teeth. Not surprisingly the vomer is not known in detail in any "Eosuchian" or early lepidosaur, as it usually lies hidden by the symphysis of the lower jaws and in any event requires delicate preparation.Item THE ANTERIOR OF THE PALATE IN EUPARKERIA(BERNARD PRICE INSTITUTE FOR PALAEONTOLOGICAL RESEARCH, 1970) Gow, C. E.In view of the central position of Euparkeria in the accepted phylogeny of the Archosaurs it was considered necessary to examine the vomer, and to this end one of the skull blocks listed by Ewer (SAM 6050) was prepared in formic acid. This yielded in addition to the vomers, important new information on the internal structure of the maxillae. The vomer stresses the primitive nature of the animal while the structure of the maxilla considerably strengthens its affinities with later archosaurs.