"Dixeya" nasuta Temporal range: | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Clade: | Synapsida |
Clade: | Therapsida |
Clade: | Theriodontia |
Clade: | † Gorgonopsia |
Genus: | †" Dixeya " |
Species: | †"D." nasuta |
Binomial name | |
†"Dixeya" nasuta | |
Synonyms | |
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"Dixeya" nasuta is a extinct species of gorgonopsian (predatory therapsids, related to modern mammals) that lived during the Late Permian of East Africa, known from fossils found in what is now Tanzania. The species has a complicated taxonomic history, it was originally named as a second species of the genus Dixeya which is now considered a junior synonym of Aelurognathus . "D." nasuta itself, however, was not moved to Aelurognathus, and although it was instead tentatively referred to Arctognathus at first it has since been recognised to not belong to this genus either. This situation leaves "Dixeya" nasuta without a formal genus name. It was proposed to belong to a new distinct genus, named "Njalila", that was informally proposed for the species in a PhD thesis, but this name has not yet been formally published and is currently a nomen nudum . "D." nasuta has been characterised from other gorgonopsians by a combination of its straight snout profile, upturned and "pinched" nose, and curved jaw margin. The fossil record of the Usili Formation shows that the taxon was contemporary with many other gorgonopsians, even alongside large representatives such as Inostrancevia and rubidgeines.
"Dixeya" nasuta was originally named by German paleontologist Friedrich von Huene in 1950 from two skulls collected from the Usili Formation (formerly known as K6 or the Kawinga Formation) in the Ruhuhu Basin of Tanzania; [1] GPIT/RE/7118 (designated the holotype specimen) and GPIT/RE/7119. [2] Von Huene had erected these specimens as second species of Dixeya, a genus coined in 1927 by Sidney H. Haughton for its type species D. quadrata. [1] In 1970, French paleontologist Denise Sigogneau-Russell re-assigned D. quadrata to Aelurognathus (as A. quadrata) in her systematic revision of gorgonopsian taxonomy, thus synonymising the two genera. However, she did not consider von Huene's D. nasuta to belong to Aelurognathus, and instead tentatively referred the species to Arctognathus as Arctognathus? nasuta. [3] Furthermore, Sigogneau (1970) only considered the holotype of D. quadrata from Malawi to belong to Aelurognathus, and she did not consider two additional specimens referred to D. quadrata by von Huene in 1950 from Tanzania (GPIT/RE/7120 and GPIT/RE/7121) to belong to the same species. Instead, she suggested that they may also be referable to Arctognathus? nasuta—in addition to three other Tanzanian specimens (MZC 886, MZC 887, and MZC 876) referred to D. quadrata by Francis Rex Parrington in 1955. [4] [5] [6] Nonetheless, Sigogneau was cautious in the referral of "D." nasuta to Arctognathus, [3] and had previously acknowledged that the referral was not a resolved matter, especially in her opinion that the roof of the skull of "D." nasuta was not well preserved enough for comparison. [7]
Later researchers agreed with Sigogneau's doubts and have acknowledged that "D." nasuta does not compare well to Arctognathus. In Eva Gebauer's unpublished 2007 Ph.D. thesis, she argued that "D." nasuta was distinct from other gorgonopsians and belonged to a new genus for which she informally proposed the nomen nudum "Njalila" (named after the Njalila, a tributary of the Ruhuhu River in Tanzania). Gebauer further proposed a novel second species of this genus, "N. insigna", based on a skull previously referred to another gorgonopsian, Scylacops capensis . Gebauer differentiated "N. insigna" from "N." nasuta by possessing thicker arches between its skull openings, a posteriorly wider skull, and a slightly more rounded snout profile. [4] In 2015, paleontologist Christian F. Kammerer also agreed that "D." nasuta was not a species of Arctognathus, as well as that the Tanzanian specimens of D. quadrata likely belonged to this same species. However, he was more cautious regarding their taxonomy, noting that Gebauer's proposal of a novel genus required further study of the material and needed to be more rigorously phylogenetically tested first. From this, he urged that the taxon should be referred to as "Dixeya" nasuta until its taxonomy and relations could be resolved (reportedly under study as of 2015). [2]
"Dixeya" nasuta is only known by its skull and jaws, which measured roughly 18 centimetres (7.1 in) in length (mid-sized for a gorgonopsian) and had a relatively short and compact snout. Compared with similarly short-snouted gorgonopsians (such as Arctognathus and Eriphostoma ) the skull is not as wide at the rear, with only weakly flaring zygomatic arches and little constriction of the snout behind the canines. As such, its skull appears much more straight-sided when viewed from above, and is also generally wider than it is tall. Similarly, the profile of the skull along the top of the snout is also largely straight, although the tip is characteristically turned up in a sharp point above the nostrils, which were positioned far-forwards on the snout. The snout is also distinctive for its unusual 'pinched' appearance. The nasal bones along the top of the snout are broad, but are constricted along the middle. Furthermore, the septomaxilla (a small bone found in and around the nostrils of therapsids) bulges strongly outwards under and behind the nostrils but then rapidly hollows out just behind them on either side, giving the bridge of the nose the pinched appearance. [4] [5]
Behind the snout, the roof of the skull is slightly concave and the rims of the orbits are noticeably raised above it. The orbits themselves are proportionately large and rounded, and face laterally out to the sides. [5] The temporal fenestra, a hole in the skull behind the eye socket for jaw muscle attachment, is also very large. Subsequently, the bony arches surrounding and separating these openings (e.g. the suborbital arch, postorbital bar) are proportionately slender and thin. The parietal foramen ("third eye" opening) on top of the skull is large and surrounded by a raised boss of bone, and is positioned at the very back of the skull right above the occiput. [2] The occiput itself (the back face of the skull) is tall and roughly rectangular in shape, slightly concave and only gently sloping. [4]
As in other gorgonopsians, "D." nasuta has large blade-like caniniform teeth. The incisor teeth (five in each premaxilla), however, are smaller than those of related gorgonopsians, and it only had four to five small postcanine teeth. [4] The jawline of the maxilla in the upper jaw is notably convex, with a much more exaggerated curve of the toothrow than in other gorgonopsians except for Arctognathus. This exaggerated curvature is due to the post-canine teeth being housed in a raised bony flange of the maxilla behind the canines. [2] The maxilla also has an unusual groove over the postcanine teeth, starting shallowly above the first postcanine and running down to the edge of the bone behind the 5th postcanine, deepening along its length. Like other gorgonopsians "D." nasuta also possessed palatal teeth, three on each palatine and two on each pterygoid bones, with only weakly developed bosses supporting them. [5] The vomer on the roof of the mouth is very broad at the front, but narrows rapidly to a constricted splint halfway down its length. This more resembles the vomer of the derived rubidgeines than the narrower vomer of earlier gorgonopsians. The vomer sports three ridges, one down its middle and two running along each edge. [2]
The dentary bone of the lower jaw is comparatively slender, with a sloping mandibular symphysis that nonetheless bears the characteristic 'chin' of gorgonopsians. The reflected lamina of the angular bone towards the back of the jaw is only moderately ridged, in comparison to other gorgonopsians. [4]
The phylogenetic relationships of "Dixeya" nasuta (as "Njalila") were analysed by Gebauer in 2007 in her unpublished PhD thesis, and was the first computerised phylogenetic analysis of gorgonopsians ever conducted. Gebauer found "D." nasuta as a member of the family Gorgonopsidae, which in her classification excluded the most basal genera of gorgonopsians in her tree that she regarded as plesiomorphic (i.e. representing the ancestral condition) for the group. Within Gorgonopsidae, "D." nasuta was a relatively derived member but outside of the clade including the giant and derived Rubidgeinae and Inostrancevia , occupying part of an evolutionary grade between them and more ancestral gorgonopsids. [4]
The results of Gebauer (2007) are depicted in the cladogram below (with notes reflecting notable taxonomic and nomenclatural changes that have occurred in the years since): [4]
The analysis of Gebauer (2007) was the first major attempt to perform a phylogenetic analysis of gorgonopsians, however its results have not been borne out by subsequent independent analyses. Namely, Kammerer (2016) regarded Gebauer's analysis as "unsatisfactory", citing that many of the characters used by her analysis were based upon skull proportions that are variable within taxa, both individually and ontogenetically (i.e. traits that change through growth). As an example of a potential problem created by this, he highlighted the basal position of Aloposaurus (a wastebasket taxon of various immature gorgonopsians) compared to the stratigraphically older and morphologically basal Eoarctops (now a junior synonym of Eriphostoma ) being found in a relatively more derived position. [9] [10]
"D." nasuta has yet to be included in any later phylogenetic analyses of gorgonopsians, and in 2015 Kammerer commented that both its generic status and phylogenetic relationships amongst other gorgonopsians needed further study pending a full re-description before a generic assignment could be made. [2]
All known fossil specimens of "Dixeya" nasuta have been identified in the Usili Formation, Ruhuhu Basin, southern Tanzania. [2] This formation, dating from the Upper Permian, is known to provide a fairly considerable number of fossils of various tetrapods. During this period, this formation would have been an alluvial plain which would have had numerous small meandering streams passing through well-vegetated floodplains. The basement of this formation would also have housed a generally high phreatic zone. [11]
"D." nasuta was contemporary with many other gorgonopsians. These include Cyonosaurus , Gorgonops , Inostrancevia, Lycaenops , " Sauroctonus " parringtoni, Scylacops and the rubidgeines Aelurognathus, Dinogorgon , Rubidgea , Ruhuhucerberus and Sycosaurus [lower-alpha 3] [12] [11] [9] The other theriodonts present are represented by the therocephalians Silphictidoides and Theriognathus as well as by the cynodont Procynosuchus . [11]
The most numerous tetrapods in the formation are the dicynodonts, among which are Compsodon [13] , Daptocephalus , Dicynodon , Dicynodontoides , Endothiodon , Euptychognathus , Geikia , Katumbia , Kawingasaurus , Oudenodon , Pristerodon , Rhachiocephalus and an indeterminate cryptodont. An undetermined biarmosuchian similar to Burnetia is also known. Therapsids are not the only tetrapods present in the Usili Formation. Indeed, sauropsids such as the archosauromorph Aenigmastropheus [14] and the pareiasaurs Anthodon and Pareiasaurus are known. The only temnospondyl recorded is Peltobatrachus . [11]
Gorgonopsia is an extinct clade of sabre-toothed therapsids from the Middle to the Upper Permian, possibly even up to the Early Triassic, roughly between 265 and 252 million years ago. They are characterised by a long and narrow skull, as well as elongated upper and sometimes lower canine teeth and incisors which were likely used as slashing and stabbing weapons. Postcanine teeth are generally reduced or absent. For hunting large prey, they possibly used a bite-and-retreat tactic, ambushing and taking a debilitating bite out of the target, and following it at a safe distance before its injuries exhausted it, whereupon the gorgonopsian would grapple the animal and deliver a killing bite. They would have had an exorbitant gape, possibly in excess of 90°, without having to unhinge the jaw.
Gorgonops is an extinct genus of gorgonopsian therapsid, of which it is the type genus. Gorgonops lived during the Late Permian (Wuchiapingian), about 260–254 million years ago in what is now South Africa.
Biarmosuchia is an extinct clade of non-mammalian synapsids from the Permian. Biarmosuchians are the most basal group of the therapsids. They were moderately-sized, lightly built carnivores, intermediate in form between basal sphenacodont "pelycosaurs" and more advanced therapsids. Biarmosuchians were rare components of Permian ecosystems, and the majority of species belong to the clade Burnetiamorpha, which are characterized by elaborate cranial ornamentation.
Inostrancevia is an extinct genus of large carnivorous therapsids which lived during the Late Permian in what are now Siberia, Russia and Southern Africa. The first-known fossils of this gorgonopsian were discovered in the Northern Dvina, where two almost complete skeletons were exhumed. Subsequently, several other fossil materials were discovered in various oblasts, and these finds will lead to a confusion about the exact number of valid species in the country, before only three of them were officially recognized: I. alexandri, I. latifrons and I. uralensis. More recent research carried out in South Africa has discovered fairly well-preserved remains of the genus, being attributed to the species I. africana. An isolated left premaxilla suggests that Inostrancevia also lived in Tanzania during the earliest Lopingian age. The whole genus is named in honor of Alexander Inostrantsev, professor of Vladimir P. Amalitsky, the paleontologist who described the taxon.
Dinogorgon is a genus of gorgonopsid from the Late Permian of South Africa and Tanzania. The generic name Dinogorgon is derived from Greek, meaning "terrible gorgon", while its species name rubidgei is taken from the surname of renowned Karoo paleontologist, Professor Bruce Rubidge, who has contributed to much of the research conducted on therapsids of the Karoo Basin. The type species of the genus is D. rubidgei.
Sauroctonus is an extinct genus of gorgonopsian therapsids who lived during the end of the Middle Permian in what is now European Russia. The first fossils, discovered in Tatarstan, were initially believed to belong to a new species of the South African genus Arctognathus. The taxon was designated as such until 1940, when it was assigned to the genus Inostrancevia by Ivan Yefremov, before being definitively classified in a separate genus erected by Alexey Bystrow. The most complete, known fossils of S. progressus include cranial and postcranial elements, currently all recorded from Tatarstan. These elements show that the animal was a mid-sized gorgonopsian.
Moschorhinus is an extinct genus of therocephalian synapsid in the family Akidnognathidae with only one species: M. kitchingi, which has been found in the Late Permian to Early Triassic of the South African Karoo Supergroup. It was a large carnivorous therapsid, reaching 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in total body length with the largest skull comparable to that of a lion in size, and had a broad, blunt snout which bore long, straight canines.
Arctops is an extinct genus of gorgonopsian therapsids known from the Late Permian of South Africa. It measured up to 2 metres in length and its skull was 30 centimetres (12 in) long. The type species is Arctops willistoni. A second species, A. watsoni, may be synonymous with A. willistoni. A. kitchingi may be a third species of Arctops, but it was only tentatively assigned to the genus when it was first named. Both were formally synonymized with A. willistoni by Christian Kammerer in 2017.
Arctognathus is an extinct genus of gorgonopsids that throve during the Late Permian in the Karoo basin of what is now South Africa.
Aelurognathus is an extinct genus of gorgonopsian therapsids from the Permian of South Africa and Zambia.
Rubidgea is a genus of gorgonopsid from the upper Permian of South Africa and Tanzania, containing the species Rubidgea atrox. The generic name Rubidgea is sometimes believed to be derived from the surname of renowned Karoo paleontologist, Professor Bruce Rubidge, who has contributed to much of the research conducted on therapsids of the Karoo Basin. However, this generic name was actually erected in honor of Rubidge's paternal grandfather, Sydney Rubidge, who was a renowned fossil hunter. Its species name atrox is derived from Latin, meaning “fierce, savage, terrible”. Rubidgea is part of the gorgonopsian subfamily Rubidgeinae, a derived group of large-bodied gorgonopsians restricted to the Late Permian (Lopingian). The subfamily Rubidgeinae first appeared in the Tropidostoma Assemblage Zone. They reached their highest diversity in the Cistecephalus and Daptocephalus assemblage zones of the Beaufort Group in South Africa.
Cyonosaurus is a genus of gorgonopsian therapsids from the late Permian and possibly Early Triassic of South Africa. Cyonosaurus was 0.6 to 1.1 metres in length, with a skull 9 to 18 centimetres in length. The type species Cyonosaurus longiceps was named in 1937.
Aloposaurus is an extinct genus of gorgonopsian therapsids from the Late Permian of South Africa. It was first named by Robert Broom in 1910, and contains the type species A. gracilis, and possibly a second species A. tenuis. This small gorgonopsid had a slender narrow skull only 12 centimetres (4.7 in) long, with a total body length of 60–70 cm (2.0–2.3 ft).
Aelurosaurus is a small, carnivorous, extinct genus of gorgonopsian therapsids from the Late Permian of South Africa. It was discovered in the Karoo Basin of South Africa, and first named by Richard Owen in 1881. It was named so because it appeared to be an ancestor for cat-like marsupials, but not yet a mammal itself. It contains five species, A. felinus, A. whaitsi, A. polyodon, A. wilmanae, and A.? watermeyeri. A. felinus, the type species, is generally well described with established features, while the other four species are not due to their poorly preserved holotypes.
Burnetia is an extinct genus of biarmosuchian therapsids in the family Burnetiidae, from the Late Permian of South Africa. Burnetia is known so far from a single holotype skull lacking the lower jaws described by South African paleontologist Robert Broom in 1923. Due to erosion and dorsoventral crushing, features of the skull are hard to interpret. Stutural lines are further distorted by the unusual shape of the skull roof, including many bosses and protuberances.
Eriphostoma is an extinct genus of gorgonopsian therapsids known from the Middle Permian of Tapinocephalus Assemblage Zone, South Africa. It has one known species, Eriphostoma microdon, and was first named by Robert Broom in 1911. It is the oldest known gorgonopsian and among the smallest and most basal members of the clade.
Geikia is an extinct genus of dicynodont therapsids from the late Permian. The abundance and diversity of dicynodonts during this period, combined with incomplete or inadequately prepared specimens, have led to challenges in determining relationships within this taxon. Only two species, Geikia locusticeps and Geikia elginensis have been assigned to this genus. While this is the currently accepted classification, fossil record limitations have led to repeated debate on the genus assignments of these species.
Kawingasaurus is an extinct genus of dicynodont therapsid from the Late Permian Usili Formation of Tanzania. It is a member of the family Cistecephalidae, and like other cistecephalids it is thought to have been fossorial. It is a member of the family Cistecephalidae. Cistephalidae includes genera Cisteceohalus, Cistecephaloides and Kawingasaurus. Greek for Saurus meaning “lizard” appears as a suffix denoting a reptilian origin. Living between 254.17 and 259.9 million years ago in the late Permian and believed to have the first and last recorded appearance in this time period. It lived in deep burrows as a suggested by most burrowing dicynodonts from evaluation of cranial sutures, vestibule inflation and enlarged stapes foot plates which are thought to be functionally correlated with bone-conduction hearing; all observed in fossorial vertebrates which use seismic signals as communication.
The Usili Formation is a Late Permian geologic formation in Tanzania. It preserves fossils of many terrestrial vertebrates from the Permian, including temnospondyls, pareiasaurs, therapsids and the archosauromorph Aenigmastropheus.
Phorcys is an extinct genus of gorgonopsian that lived during the Middle Permian period (Guadalupian) of what is now South Africa. It is known from two specimens, both portions from the back of the skull, that were described and named in 2022 as a new genus and species P. dubei by Christian Kammerer and Bruce Rubidge. The generic name is from Phorcys of Greek mythology, the father of the Gorgons from which the gorgonopsians are named after, and refers to its status as one of the oldest representatives of the group in the fossil record. Phorcys was recovered from the lowest strata of the Tapinocephalus Assemblage Zone (AZ) of the Beaufort Group, making it one of the oldest known gorgonopsians in the fossil record—second only to fragmentary remains of an indeterminate gorgonopsian from the older underlying Eodicynodon Assemblage Zone.