Palaeontologia africana
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ISSN (print): 0078-8554
ISSN (electronic): 2410-4418
For queries regarding content of Palaeontologia africana collections please contact Jonah Choiniere by email : jonah.choiniere@wits.ac.za or Tel : 011 717 6684
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Item On some fossil Arthropoda from the Limeworks , Makapansgat, Potgietersrus(Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, 1980) Kitching, J. W.The fossil arthropod remains from the Limeworks deposit consist of puparial and dung ball casts from the Lower Phase I (Member 3) through to the Upper Phase I (Member 4) breccias. The puparial stages are represented in two gross sizes; cuticular remains and segmentation are evident in a few. Possible palaeoenvironmental implications based on the puparial remains and their state of preservation are briefly discussed. A remarkably well preserved fossilised juvenile centipede from the Lower Phase I (Member 3) breccia is placed on record for the first time.Item Preliminary report on a clutch of six dinosaurian eggs from the upper Triassic Elliot Formation, Northern Orange Free State(Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, 1979) Kitching, J. W.;A clutch of six dinosaurian eggs, containing foetal skeletons of as yet uncertain taxonomic affinity, from the Elliot Formation (Red Bed Stage), northern Orange Free State, seems to be the first record of fossil eggs of Upper Triassic age. As preserved the eggs have a long axis of 65 mm, with a short axis of approximately 55 mm. The egg “shell” is exceptionally thin; fragments removed from one of the specimens have an estimated thickness of 0,5 mm. Additional preparation work is at present being undertaken on a reasonably well-preserved skull in one of the eggs and a more detailed description of the specimen and possible parentage will appear at a later date.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 The stratigraphic distribution and occurrence of South African fossil Amphibia in the Beaufort beds(Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, 1978) Kitching, J. W.A short account is given of the distribution and occurrence of fossil amphibians from the Beaufort succession, based on analyses of specimens in various South African and overseas institutions. Their occurrence is based on the re-examination of all the localities which have yielded amphibian remains to date and on field observations during the course of collecting. Attention is drawn to the paucity of fossil amphibians throughout the Beaufort palaeontological record. Possible causes of this paucity are discussed.Item On the Lystrosaurus zone and its fauna with special reference to some immature Lystrosauridae(Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, 1968) Kitching, J. W.In the past, collecting from the middle Beaufort Beds or Lystrosaurus zone has been badly neglected by field workers mainly due to the monotonous occurrence of the genus Lystrosaurus. Collecting has mostly been undertaken in such areas as the Harrismith Commonage, Oliviershoek Pass, Bergville or where there was a good possibility of finding either Thrinaxodon, Glochinodontoides or other faunal remains more exciting than Lystrosaurus.Item A new small Stereospondylous labyrinthodont from the Triassic beds of South Africa(Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, 1958-06-01) Kitching, J. W.This paper describes an interesting new Amphibian, Laidleria gracilis gen. et sp. nov., from the Lower Triassic of South Africa (Cynognathus-zone). It is a Stereospondylid Labyrinthodont, belonging to the family Trematosauridae, but it differs in being exceptionally small. Most of the skeleton is preserved and with it are associated masses of small dermal scutes reflecting the nature of the skin. A combination of some peculiar characteristics encourages the recognition of this specimen as representing a new family.Item Notes on some fossil pockets and bone beds in the Cynognathus- zone in the Burghersdorp and Lady Frere districts(Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, 1963-08-01) Kitching, J. W.Most palaeontological field workers are familiar with the blue to green shales and maroon to red mudstones, as well as the fine-grained greenish-blue sandstones, of the Cynognathus-zone, all these colours contributing to its general patchy appearance. Heights within the zone can unfortunately not be determined reliably with the assistance of particular colour sequences, but a conspicuous and persistent sandstone horizon marks the middle level of the zone. Our knowledge of the manner in which fossils occur both above and below this horizon is not satisfactory.Item A fossil Orycteropus from the Limeworks quarry, Makapansgat, Potgietersrus(Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, 1963-08-01) Kitching, J. W.The family Orycteropodidae (Grey 1821) comprises the antbears of the Old World and is known from fossil evidence to have existed in Europe, Asia and Madagascar, but the living species, confined to one single genus, now occur only on the continent of Africa..Item A new giant hyracoid from the Limeworks Quarry, Makapansgat, Potgietersrus(Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, 1965-12) Kitching, J. W.In this paper a new genus and species of giant hyrax from the Limeworks Quarry, Makapansgat, Potgietersrus, is described. This new hyrax is 1 1/2 times larger than the largest specimen thus far extracted from any Pleistocene deposit in Africa. The name Cigantohyrax maguirei gen. et sp. nov., is proposed.Item ON THE LYSTROSAURUS ZONE AND ITS FAUNA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO SOME IMMATURE LYSTROSAURIDAE(BERNARD PRICE INSTITUTE FOR PALAEONTOLOGICAL RESEARCH, 1968) Kitching, J. W.In the past, collecting from the middle Beaufort Beds or Lystrosaurus zone has been badly neglected by field workers mainly due to the monotonous occurrence of the genus Lystrosaurus. Collecting has mostly been undertaken in such areas as the Harrismith Commonage, Oliviershoek Pass, Bergville or where there was a good possibility of finding either Thrinaxodon, Glochinodontoides or other faunal remains more exciting than Lystrosaurus.