On the scaloposaurid skull of Olivieria parringtoni, Brink with a note on the origin of hair

Abstract

Olivieria parringtoni was described by Brink in 1965 as a new genus and species. It stands closest, among the scaloposaurids, to Ictidosuchops intermedius (Broom). In general shape and size, their skulls are virtually indistinguishable from one another, but Olivieria comes from the top of the Lystrosaurus-zone (early Triassic) while the type-locality of I. intermedius is the Cistecephalus-zone (Upper Permian). Differences in dentition and differences in detailed skull moulding had argued for the creation of the new genus.