Original paper
Anthodon ? haughtoni (v. Huene, 1944), a pareiasaurid (Parareptilia: Pareiasauria) from the Late Permian Usili Formation of Kingori, Ruhuhu Basin, Tanzania
Maisch, Michael W.; Matzke, Andreas T.
Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen Band 291 Heft 2 (2019), p. 197 - 204
23 references
published: Feb 28, 2019
manuscript accepted: Oct 12, 2018
manuscript received: May 5, 2018
ArtNo. ESP155029102004, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
The pareiasaur Anthodon ? haughtoni (v. Huene, 1944), known only from an incomplete postcranium comprising part of the dorsal vertebral column and associated osteoderms, is redescribed. It is shown that it represents a valid taxon that can be diagnosed based on autapomorphies of osteoderm morphology. There are two rows of parasagittal osteoderms and at least one row of lateral osteoderms. Unpaired sagittal osteoderms are absent. The lateral osteoderms are rhombic and very extensive mediolaterally. The very distinctive osteodermal armour which is unlike other known pareiasaurs does not allow to refer the specimen to Anthodon, nor can it be dismissed as a nomen dubium as suggested by previous studies. Nonetheless, it appears premature to base a new genus on such scanty material. As it most closely resembles a referred specimen of Pareiasaurus serridens among known pareiasaurids, it is tentatively identified as Pareiasaurus (?) haughtoni, pending the discovery of more complete material. There is thus no record of the genus Anthodon from the Ruhuhu Basin of south-western Tanzania.
Keywords
Parareptilia • Pareiasauria • Tanzania • Usili Formation • taxonomy • morphology