The first biarmosuchian from the upper Madumabisa Mudstone Formation (Luangwa Basin) of Zambia
Date
2015-04-01
Authors
Sidor, Christian A
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Abstract
This contribution reports the first occurrence of a biarmosuchian therapsid from the upper Madumabisa Mudstone Formation of the
Luangwa Basin of northeastern Zambia. Although incomplete, the fossil preserves diagnostic features of post-Biarmosuchus
biarmosuchians, such as the presence of a preparietal bone and parasagittal ridges on the basicranial rami of the pterygoids, that allow
its unambiguous referral to this group. Based primarily on the record of dicynodonts, the upper Madumabisa Mudstone assemblage
can be correlated with the Cistecephalus Assemblage Zone of South Africa. During this interval, the tetrapod faunas of the Karoo and
Luangwa basins were remarkably similar and likely characterized by frequent biotic interchange.
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Keywords
Biarmosuchia, Cistecephalus Assemblage Zone, Madumabisa Mudstone Formation, Luangwa Basin, Zambia