A new large gomphodont from the Triassic of South Africa and its implications for Gondwanan biostratigraphy

• Main Authors: Frederick Tolchard (11184358), Christian F. Kammerer (7335662), Richard J. Butler (7335671), Christophe Hendrickx (530871), Julien Benoit (102829), Fernando Abdala (425031), Jonah N. Choiniere (7335674)
• Format: Dataset
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: Biophysics; Cell Biology; Genetics; Molecular Biology; Evolutionary Biology; Ecology; Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified; Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified; upper fremouw formation; nov .; diagnosed; likely omnivorous gomphodont; assemblage zone (<; apex predator within; amnh farb 24421; subzone strengthens evidence; impidens hancoxi </; skull fragment also; new large gomphodont; new gomphodont taxon; inferred skull length; subzone .</ p; partial skull; new species; also referred; ufudocyclops </; cynognathus </; tetrapod fauna; specimen represents; south africa; large cynodont; incisor teeth; gondwanan biostratigraphy; et sp; enlarged canine; biostratigraphic correlation; 460 mm; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.15052540.v2

A partial skull (BP/1/7976) of a very large cynodont from the Middle Triassic Cynognathus Assemblage Zone ( Cricodon-Ufudocyclops subzone) of South Africa is described. The specimen represents a new gomphodont taxon, Impidens hancoxi , gen. et sp. nov., diagnosed by five sectorial teeth constituting just over half of the length of the upper postcanine tooth row, and enlarged canine and incisor teeth. BP/1/8123, a skull fragment also from the Cricodon-Ufudocyclops subzone, and AMNH FARB 24421, a partial skull from the upper Fremouw Formation of Antarctica, are also referred to the new species. The presence of this taxon in both the upper Fremouw Formation and Cricodon-Ufudocyclops subzone strengthens evidence of biostratigraphic correlation between these units. Impidens hancoxi , with an inferred skull length of up to 460 mm, was a large-bodied and likely omnivorous gomphodont, and may have played the role of apex predator within the tetrapod fauna of the Cricodon-Ufudocyclops subzone.