Christian Alfred Sidor is an American vertebrate paleontologist. He is currently a Professor in the Department of Biology, University of Washington in Seattle, [1] as well as Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology and Associate Director for Research and Collections at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture. [2] His research focuses on Permian and Triassic tetrapod evolution, especially on therapsids.
Sidor received a B.S. (with honors) in biology from Trinity College in 1994. He went on to pursue his graduate studies at the University of Chicago, completing his M.S. in 1996 and his Ph.D. in 2000 under the supervision of James Hopson. [3] Sidor won the Romer Prize in 2001 for his doctoral work, [4] a competitive annual award at the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology annual meeting for the best predoctoral student oral presentation. [5] Following his dissertation, Sidor held a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Museum of Natural History (2001) before becoming an Assistant Professor in Anatomy at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. [6] He held that position until 2005, when he took up a position as an Assistant Professor in Biology at the University of Washington. Presently, he is a full Professor in Biology at the University of Washington, as well as a Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology and Associate Director for Research and Collections at the affiliated Burke Museum. He is a research associate at the Field Museum of Natural History, National Museum of Natural History, and Evolutionary Studies Institute (University of the Witwatersrand).
Sidor is best known for his work on therapsid synapsids; [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] the title of his dissertation was "Evolutionary trends and relationships within the Synapsida." [13] However, Sidor has been involved with research on a diverse array of other Paleozoic and Mesozoic tetrapod clades, including temnospondyl amphibians; [14] [15] [16] captorhinid reptiles; [17] [18] pseudosuchian archosaurs; [19] [20] [21] and avemetatarsalian archosaurs, [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] encompassing a wide-ranging research program focusing on descriptive anatomy, taxonomy and phylogenetics, histology and pathology, trends in biogeography, and responses of tetrapods to major climatic perturbations. Sidor has extensive experience collecting and researching fossils from historically less well-sampled geographic regions, including Niger, [28] Tanzania, [29] Zambia, [30] and Antarctica. [31] Previously he was a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology (2005-2010).
Below is a list of new taxa that Sidor has contributed to naming:
Year | Taxon | Authors |
---|---|---|
2023 | Rhigerpeton isbelli gen. et sp. nov. | Gee, Beightol & Sidor [32] |
2022 | Notictoides absens gen. et sp. nov. | Sidor, Kulik & Huttenlocker [33] |
2021 | Mobaceras zambeziense gen. et sp. nov. | Kammerer & Sidor [34] |
2021 | Isengops luangwensis , gen. et sp. nov. | Sidor, Tabor & Smith [35] |
2020 | Nshimbodon muchingaensis gen. et sp. nov. | Huttenlocker & Sidor [36] |
2020 | Kataigidodon venetus gen. et sp. nov. | Kligman, Marsh, Sues & Sidor [37] |
2019 | Ancistronychus paradoxus gen. et sp. nov. | Gonçalves & Sidor [38] |
2019 | Laosuchus naga gen. et sp. nov. | Arbez, Sidor & Steyer [39] |
2019 | Antarctanax shackletoni gen. et sp. nov. | Peecook, Smith & Sidor [40] |
2017 | Teleocrater rhadinus gen. et sp. nov. | Nesbitt, Butler, Ezcurra, Barrett, Stocker, Angielczyk, Smith, Sidor, Niedźwiedzki, Sennikov, & Charig [27] |
2016 | Wantulignathus gwembensis gen. et sp. nov | Whitney & Sidor [41] |
2016 | Mupashi migrator gen. et sp. nov. | Huttenlocker & Sidor [42] |
2015 | Opisthodontosaurus carrolli gen. et sp. nov. | Reisz, LeBlanc, Sidor, Scott & May [18] |
2015 | Ichibengops munyamadziensis gen. et sp. nov. | Huttenlocker & Sidor [43] |
2014 | Abajudon kaayai gen. et sp. nov. | Angielczyk, Huertas, Smith, Tabor, Sidor, Steyer, Tsuji, & Gostling [44] |
2014 | Nundasuchus songeaensis gen. et sp. nov. | Nesbitt, Sidor, Angielczyk, Smith & Tsuji [25] |
2014 | Antarctosuchus polyodon gen. et sp. nov. | Sidor, Steyer & Hammer [45] |
2013 | Lutungutali sitwensis gen. et sp. nov. | Peecook, Sidor, Nesbitt, Smith, Steyer & Angielczyk [46] |
2013 | Nyasasaurus parringtoni gen. et sp. nov. | Nesbitt, Barrett, Werning, Sidor & Charig [23] |
2010 | Asilisaurus kongwe gen. et sp. nov. | Nesbitt, Sidor, Irmis, Angielczyk, Smith, & Tsuji [22] |
2010 | Kombuisia antarctica sp. nov. | Fröbisch, Angielczyk & Sidor [47] |
2008 | Kryostega collinsoni gen. et sp. nov. | Sidor, Damiani, & Hammer [15] |
2007 | Lophorhinus willodenensis gen. et sp. nov. | Sidor & Smith [48] |
2006 | Pachydectes elsi gen. et sp. nov. | Rubidge, Modesto & Sidor [49] |
2006 | Paraburnetia sneeubergensis gen. et sp. nov. | Smith, Rubidge & Sidor [50] |
2006 | Elliotherium kersteni gen. et sp. nov. | Sidor & Hancox [51] |
2006 | Herpetoskylax hopsoni gen. et sp. nov. | Sidor & Rubidge [52] |
2005 | Saharastega moradiensis gen. et sp. nov | Sidor, O'Keefe, Damiani, Steyer, Smith, Larsson, Sereno, Ide, & Maga [14] |
2005 | Nigerpeton ricqlesi gen. et sp. nov. | Sidor, O'Keefe, Damiani, Steyer, Smith, Larsson, Sereno, Ide, & Maga [14] |
2004 | Lobalopex mordax gen. et sp. nov. | Sidor, Hopson & Keyser [53] |
2004 | Progalesaurus lootsbergensis gen. et sp. nov. | Sidor & Smith [54] |
2003 | Anatosuchus minor gen. et sp. nov. | Sereno, Sidor, Larsson & Gado [21] |
1998 | Suchomimus tenerensis gen. et sp. nov. | Sereno et al. [55] |
1996 | Deltadromeus agilis gen. et sp. nov. | Sereno, Dutheil, Iarochene, Larsson, Lyon, Magwene, Sidor, Varrichio, & Wilson [56] |
Diictodon is an extinct genus of pylaecephalid dicynodont that lived during the Late Permian period, approximately 255 million years ago. Fossils have been found in the Cistecephalus Assemblage Zone of the Madumabisa Mudstone of the Luangwa Basin in Zambia and the Tropidostoma Assemblage Zone of the Teekloof Formation, Tapinocephalus Assemblage Zone of the Abrahamskraal Formation, Dicynodon Assemblage Zone of the Balfour Formation, Cistecephalus Assemblage Zone of the Middleton or Balfour Formation of South Africa and the Guodikeng Formation of China. Roughly half of all Permian vertebrate specimens found in South Africa are those of Diictodon. This small herbivorous animal was one of the most successful synapsids in the Permian period.
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.
The Tapinocephalus Assemblage Zone is a tetrapod assemblage zone or biozone which correlates to the middle Abrahamskraal Formation, Adelaide Subgroup of the Beaufort Group, a fossiliferous and geologically important geological Group of the Karoo Supergroup in South Africa. The thickest outcrops, reaching approximately 2,000 metres (6,600 ft), occur from Merweville and Leeu-Gamka in its southernmost exposures, from Sutherland through to Beaufort West where outcrops start to only be found in the south-east, north of Oudshoorn and Willowmore, reaching up to areas south of Graaff-Reinet. Its northernmost exposures occur around the towns Fraserburg and Victoria West. The Tapinocephalus Assemblage Zone is the second biozone of the Beaufort Group.
The Cistecephalus Assemblage Zone is a tetrapod assemblage zone or biozone found in the Adelaide Subgroup of the Beaufort Group, a majorly fossiliferous and geologically important geological group of the Karoo Supergroup in South Africa. This biozone has outcrops located in the Teekloof Formation north-west of Beaufort West in the Western Cape, in the upper Middleton and lower Balfour Formations respectively from Colesberg of the Northern Cape to east of Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape. The Cistecephalus Assemblage Zone is one of eight biozones found in the Beaufort Group, and is considered to be Late Permian in age.
The Daptocephalus Assemblage Zone is a tetrapod assemblage zone or biozone found in the Adelaide Subgroup of the Beaufort Group, a majorly fossiliferous and geologically important Group of the Karoo Supergroup in South Africa. This biozone has outcrops located in the upper Teekloof Formation west of 24°E, the majority of the Balfour Formation east of 24°E, and the Normandien Formation in the north. It has numerous localities which are spread out from Colesberg in the Northern Cape, Graaff-Reniet to Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, and from Bloemfontein to Harrismith in the Free State. The Daptocephalus Assemblage Zone is one of eight biozones found in the Beaufort Group and is considered Late Permian (Lopingian) in age. Its contact with the overlying Lystrosaurus Assemblage Zone marks the Permian-Triassic boundary.
The Fremouw Formation is a Triassic-age rock formation in the Transantarctic Mountains of Antarctica. It contains the oldest known fossils of tetrapods from Antarctica, including synapsids, reptiles and amphibians. Fossilized trees have also been found. The formation's beds were deposited along the banks of rivers and on floodplains. During the Triassic, the area would have been a riparian forest at 70–75°S latitude.
Bullacephalus is an extinct genus of biarmosuchian therapsids belonging to the family Burnetiidae. The type species B. jacksoni was named in 2003. It is known from a relatively complete skull and lower jaw, discovered in the Late Permian Tapinocephalus Assemblage Zone of the Beaufort Group of South Africa. This genus of therapsida lived during the Late Permian period, approximately 250 million years ago.
Chthonosaurus is an extinct genus of eutherocephalian therapsids from the Late Permian Kutulukskaya Formation of Russia. The type species Chthonosaurus velocidens was named in 1955.
Sangusaurus is an extinct genus of large dicynodont synapsid with two recognized species: S. edentatus and S. parringtonii. Sangusaurus is named after the Sangu stream in eastern Zambia near to where it was first discovered + ‘saur’ which is the Greek root for lizard. Sangusaurus fossils have been recovered from the upper parts of the Ntawere Formation in Zambia and of the Lifua Member of the Manda Beds in Tanzania. The earliest study considered Sangusaurus a kannemeyeriid dicynodont, but more recent phylogenetic analyses place Sangusaurus within the stahleckeriid clade of Dicynodontia. Until recently, little work had been done to describe Sangusaurus, likely because only four incomplete fossil specimens have been discovered.
Tetragonias is an extinct genus of dicynodont from the Anisian Manda Beds of Tanzania. With tetra meaning “four,” and goni meaning “angle,” the name references the square shape of the Tetragonias skull when viewed dorsally. Not to be confused with the plant Tetragonia,Tetragonias were dicynodont anomodonts discovered in the late 1960s by paleontologist A. R. I. Cruickshank in the Manda Formation. Only the type species, T. njalilus, has been recognized.
Katumbia is a genus of dicynodont from Late Permian (Changhsingian) Kawinga Formation of the Ruhuhu Basin, Tanzania. and possibly the Upper Madumabisa Mudstone Formation of the Luangwa Basin, Zambia. The type species, K. parringtoni, was originally referred to the genus Cryptocynodon, which is now recognized as a junior synonym of Endothiodon.
The Abrahamskraal Formation is a geological formation and is found in numerous localities in the Northern Cape, Western Cape, and the Eastern Cape of South Africa. It is the lowermost formation of the Adelaide Subgroup of the Beaufort Group, a major geological group that forms part of the greater Karoo Supergroup. It represents the first fully terrestrial geological deposits of the Karoo Basin. Outcrops of the Abrahamskraal Formation are found from the small town Middelpos in its westernmost localities, then around Sutherland, the Moordenaarskaroo north of Laingsburg, Williston, Fraserburg, Leeu-Gamka, Loxton, and Victoria West in the Western Cape and Northern Cape. In the Eastern Cape outcrops are known from Rietbron, north of Klipplaat and Grahamstown, and also southwest of East London.
Syops is an extinct genus of dicynodont therapsid. The type species S. vanhoepeni was first named in 1938 as Dicynodon vanhoepeni. Fossils of the genus have been found in the Cistecephalus Assemblage Zone in the Usili Formation of the Ruhuhu Basin, Tanzania and the Upper Madumabisa Mudstone Formation of the Luangwa Basin, Zambia. Its phylogenetic placement is somewhat uncertain, with multiple different studies finding it as either a basal geikiid, rhachiocephalid a dicynodontoid more derived than the most basal genera but less derived than Lystrosauridae, or a lystrosaurid.
The Manda Formation is a Middle Triassic (Anisian?) or possibly Late Triassic (Carnian?) geologic formation in Tanzania. It preserves fossils of many terrestrial vertebrates from the Triassic, including some of the earliest dinosauromorph archosaurs. The formation is often considered to be Anisian in age according to general tetrapod biochronology hypotheses and correlations to the Cynognathus Assemblage Zone of South Africa. However, some recent studies cast doubt to this age, suggesting that parts deposits may actually be younger (Carnian) in age.
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.
Leucocephalus is a genus of biarmosuchian belonging to the family Burnetiidae dating to the Wuchiapingian. It was found in the Tropidostoma Assemblage Zone of the Main Karoo Basin of South Africa. It is a monotypic taxon which contains one only species, Leucocephalus wewersi. The genus name Leucocephalus is derived from Greek. Leucos, meaning white; kephalos, meaning skull, as the Leucocephalus skull discovered was unusually pale. The species epithet wewersi comes from the farm employee who found the skull, Klaus ‘Klaasie’ Wewers.
The Moradi Formation is a geological formation in Niger. It is of Late Permian age. It is informally divided into three subunits. The lower portion of the formation consists of red mudstone, with muddy calcareous sandstone and quartz-granlule conglomerate present as lenses. The middle portion consists of muddy siltstone in thick beds interbedded with red argillaceous sandstone. The lower two thirds of the upper portion of the formation consist of red siltstone intercalated with channel lag intraformational conglomerates, while the upper third consists of barchanoid shaped lenses of conglomeratic sandstone with ventifacts. These facies are indicatived of deposition under arid conditions, with less than 300 millimetres (12 in) of annual rainfall in the Central Pangean desert, with annual temperatures of 30 to 35 °C, but with ephemeral water presence including lakes.
The Ntawere Formation is a Middle Triassic (Anisian) geological formation in Zambia, preserving fossils of synapsids, archosaurs, and temnospondyls.
Oudenodontidae is an extinct family of dicynodont therapsids, known from the Late Permian of Malawi, Namibia, Russia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia. It includes three genera, Australobarbarus, Oudenodon, and Tropidostoma.
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