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Evidence of a therapsid scavenger in the Late Permian Karoo Basin, South Africa.
- Source :
-
South African Journal of Science . Nov/Dec2012, Vol. 108 Issue 11/12, p90-93. 4p. 2 Black and White Photographs, 1 Chart. - Publication Year :
- 2012
-
Abstract
- Dicynodonts are an extinct group of herbivorous non-mammalian therapsids ('mammal-like'reptiles) that are widely known from terrestrial Permo-Triassic strata throughout Pangaea.Dicynodont fossil remains are common within the Late Permian Beaufort Group of theKaroo Basin in South Africa. A large, partially articulated dicynodont skeleton recoveredfrom the Tropidostoma Assemblage Zone is taphonomically important in having an unusualdisarticulation pattern, bone surface punctures and a broken tooth of an unidentifiedcarnivore associated with it. Here we report on the nature of the bone damage, and theidentity of the carnivore that lost a canine tooth whilst scavenging the dicynodont carcass.The morphological characteristics of the serrations on the unidentified tooth were comparedwith those of contemporaneous carnivores, the gorgonopsians and therocephalians. Scanningelectron microscopy analysis of a silicone cast of the unidentified tooth revealed distinctive0.5-mm square-shaped serrations. Our comparative assessment of the tooth size, curvature,cross-sectional shape and morphology of the serrations revealed that the unidentified caninemost closely matched Aelurognathus, a gorgonopsian known from the same assemblage zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *THERAPSIDA
*REPTILES
*CARNIVOROUS animals
PANGAEA (Supercontinent)
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00382353
- Volume :
- 108
- Issue :
- 11/12
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- South African Journal of Science
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 85599298
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.4102/sajs.v108i11/12.1158