Original paper

Aphaneramma kokeni (von Huene, 1920), a lonchorhynchine trematosaurid (Amphibia: Temnospondyli) from the Lower Triassic of Pakistan

Maisch, Michael W.

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Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen Band 295 Heft 3 (2020), p. 211 - 241

43 references

published: Mar 31, 2020
manuscript accepted: Jan 16, 2020
manuscript received: Nov 19, 2019

DOI: 10.1127/njgpa/2020/0879

BibTeX file

ArtNo. ESP155029503000, Price: 29.00 €

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Abstract

The type and only known specimen of the lonchorhynchine trematosaurid Aphaneramma kokeni (von Huene, 1920) from the Mianwali Formation (Lower Triassic, Dienerian) of Chiddru, Punjab, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is redescribed. It is demonstrated that A. kokeni is a valid taxon clearly distinct from other nominal species of the genus and a new diagnosis is provided. The preorbital region of A. kokeni differs considerably from other Aphaneramma species by the small external exposure of the lacrimal, which is almost completely overlapped by the prefrontal, as in some other trematosaurs such as Cosgriffius, Wantzosaurus and Trematolestes. It also differs in the arrangement of the postorbital dermal skull bones, particularly the short postfrontal, lack (or almost so) of a postfrontal-supratemporal contact and the posteriorly extensive frontals, as well as a unique dentition on the ectopterygoid. Phylogenetic analysis places the species in a monophyletic genus Aphaneramma, in a polytomy with the other two nominal species of the genus.

Keywords

Amphibia • Temnospondyli • Lonchorhynchinae • Lower Triassic • Salt Range • Pakistan • cranial osteology • taxonomy • phylogeny