Cranial anatomy of Bolotridon frerensis, an enigmatic cynodont from the Middle Triassic of South Africa, and its phylogenetic significance.

ABSTRACT: The cynodont fauna of the Trirachodon-Kannemeyeria Subzone of the Middle Triassic Cynognathus Assemblage Zone (AZ) is almost exclusively represented by taxa belonging to the clade Eucynodontia. However, there is one basal (non-eucynodont) cynodont known to have survived into this assemblage: the enigmatic Bolotridon frerensis. BSPG 1934-VIII-7 represents by far the most extensive specimen of B. frerensis, consisting of a partial skull with occluded lower jaw. The specimen was initially described by Broili & Schröder (1934), but their description was limited to surface details of the skull and the dental morphology. Here, by using a computed tomographic (CT) reconstruction, we redescribe this specimen, providing novel information on its palatal and internal anato

SUBMITTER: Pusch LC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8214396 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature