Cranial anatomy of the gorgonopsian Cynariops robustus based on CT-reconstruction.
Gorgonopsia is one of the major clades of non-mammalian synapsids, and includes an array of large-bodied carnivores that were the top terrestrial predators of the late Permian. Most research on the clade has focused on these largest members; small-bodied gorgonopsians are relatively little-studied....
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2018-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0207367 |
| _version_ | 1819146943720325120 |
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| author | Eva-Maria Bendel Christian F Kammerer Nikolay Kardjilov Vincent Fernandez Jörg Fröbisch |
| author_facet | Eva-Maria Bendel Christian F Kammerer Nikolay Kardjilov Vincent Fernandez Jörg Fröbisch |
| author_sort | Eva-Maria Bendel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Gorgonopsia is one of the major clades of non-mammalian synapsids, and includes an array of large-bodied carnivores that were the top terrestrial predators of the late Permian. Most research on the clade has focused on these largest members; small-bodied gorgonopsians are relatively little-studied. Here, we redescribe a small gorgonopsian skull (MB.R.999) from the late Permian (Tropidostoma Assemblage Zone) of South Africa on the basis of neutron and synchrotron CT reconstructions, which yield new data on internal cranial morphology in Gorgonopsia. Because of the largely undistorted nature of MB.R.999, we were also able to reconstruct unossified areas such as the brain endocast and the otic labyrinth. MB.R.999 can be referred to the taxon Cynariops robustus based on its general skull proportions, postcanine tooth count, preparietal morphology, and vomerine morphology. We refer additional small gorgonopsian specimens from the Victoria West area to Cynariops robustus, and consider Cynarioides grimbeeki and Cynarioides laticeps to be synonymous with C. robustus. Inclusion of Cynariops in a phylogenetic analysis of Gorgonopsia recovers it within a large clade of African taxa, more closely related to Lycaenops and rubidgeines than Eriphostoma or Gorgonops. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T13:21:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dc0debe078d24435ba1762472852b309 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T13:21:57Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-dc0debe078d24435ba1762472852b3092022-12-21T18:24:27ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032018-01-011311e020736710.1371/journal.pone.0207367Cranial anatomy of the gorgonopsian Cynariops robustus based on CT-reconstruction.Eva-Maria BendelChristian F KammererNikolay KardjilovVincent FernandezJörg FröbischGorgonopsia is one of the major clades of non-mammalian synapsids, and includes an array of large-bodied carnivores that were the top terrestrial predators of the late Permian. Most research on the clade has focused on these largest members; small-bodied gorgonopsians are relatively little-studied. Here, we redescribe a small gorgonopsian skull (MB.R.999) from the late Permian (Tropidostoma Assemblage Zone) of South Africa on the basis of neutron and synchrotron CT reconstructions, which yield new data on internal cranial morphology in Gorgonopsia. Because of the largely undistorted nature of MB.R.999, we were also able to reconstruct unossified areas such as the brain endocast and the otic labyrinth. MB.R.999 can be referred to the taxon Cynariops robustus based on its general skull proportions, postcanine tooth count, preparietal morphology, and vomerine morphology. We refer additional small gorgonopsian specimens from the Victoria West area to Cynariops robustus, and consider Cynarioides grimbeeki and Cynarioides laticeps to be synonymous with C. robustus. Inclusion of Cynariops in a phylogenetic analysis of Gorgonopsia recovers it within a large clade of African taxa, more closely related to Lycaenops and rubidgeines than Eriphostoma or Gorgonops.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0207367 |
| spellingShingle | Eva-Maria Bendel Christian F Kammerer Nikolay Kardjilov Vincent Fernandez Jörg Fröbisch Cranial anatomy of the gorgonopsian Cynariops robustus based on CT-reconstruction. PLoS ONE |
| title | Cranial anatomy of the gorgonopsian Cynariops robustus based on CT-reconstruction. |
| title_full | Cranial anatomy of the gorgonopsian Cynariops robustus based on CT-reconstruction. |
| title_fullStr | Cranial anatomy of the gorgonopsian Cynariops robustus based on CT-reconstruction. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cranial anatomy of the gorgonopsian Cynariops robustus based on CT-reconstruction. |
| title_short | Cranial anatomy of the gorgonopsian Cynariops robustus based on CT-reconstruction. |
| title_sort | cranial anatomy of the gorgonopsian cynariops robustus based on ct reconstruction |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0207367 |
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