Re-identification and updated stratigraphic context of the holotypes of the late Permian tetrapods Dicynodon ingens and Scymnosaurus warreni from KwaZulu-Natal
Date
2023
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Evolutionary Studies Institute
Abstract
Two historical therapsid holotypes held in the collections of the KwaZulu-Natal Museum (Dicynodon ingens Broom, 1907 and
Scymnosaurus warreni Broom, 1907) are redescribed. The holotype of D. ingens is a snout tip of a large dicynodontoid that can be
re-identified as a specimen of Daptocephalus leoniceps based on premaxillary proportions and palatal morphology. The holotype of
S. warreni consists of a dorsoventrally crushed therocephalian snout, which is here re-identified as that of Moschorhinus kitchingi based
on size, general proportions, tooth count, and septomaxillary morphology. The localities of both specimens are biostratigraphically
assigned to the Lystrosaurus maccaigi-Moschorhinus Subzone of the Daptocephalus Assemblage Zone (latest Permian).
Description
Keywords
Karoo Basin, Balfour Formation, biostratigraphy, Broom holotypes, KwaZulu-Natal Province, Daptocephalus Assemblage Zone, Lopingian