Original paper
A dicynodont mandible from the Triassic of Germany forms the first evidence of large herbivores in the Central European Carnian
Schoch, Rainer R.
Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen Band 263 Heft 2 (2012), p. 119 - 123
published: Feb 1, 2012
DOI: 10.1127/0077-7749/2012/0216
ArtNo. ESP155026302003, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
A new partial mandible from the Schilfsandstein (Stuttgart Formation, Middle Carnian) of southern Germany forms the first unambiguous evidence of dicynodonts in the German Triassic. The preserved anterior part of the mandible is most consistent with kannemeyeriiform dicynodonts known from the Middle and Late Triassic of South America, southern Africa, North America, and the Eastern European Platform. Extrapolation of body size from the mandible indicates that the Schilfsandstein dicynodont was moderately large (∼2m estimated body length). This find is significant as it forms the first evidence of large herbivores in the Carnian pre-dinosaur faunas of Central Europe.
Keywords
dicynodontia • herbivory • kannemeyeriiformes • synapsida • terrestrial faunas