A detailed description of the internal structure of the skull of Emydops (Therapsida: Dicynodontia)

Abstract

A detailed morphological study of two skulls of Emydops was undertaken by using the serial grinding technique. Graphic reconstructions of various aspects of the skulls were made. The internal structures are described in detail and compared to other small dicynodonts such as Eodicynodon, Pristerodon, Cistecephalus and Diictodon. Emydops and Cistecephalus show more advanced features in common with each other than with other dicynodonts. The structure of the skull of Emydops conforms within the limits of variation known for this genus, to descriptions given in the literature. It was found that Emydops differs from other dicynodonts in that the parasphenoid has a definite suture with the pterygoid anterior to the pterygoid-basisphenoid suture, instead of passing between the pterygoids without contacting them, as reported by Olson (1944).