Taxonomy, phylogeny and stratigraphical ranges of middle Permian pareiasaurs from the Karoo Basin of South Africa
Van den Brandt, Marc J. (University of the Witwatersrand. Evolutionary Studies Institute and School of Geosciences (South Africa))
Abdalaa, Fernando (University of the Witwatersrand. Evolutionary Studies Institute and School of Geosciences (South Africa))
Benoit, Julien (University of the Witwatersrand. Evolutionary Studies Institute and School of Geosciences (South Africa))
Day, Michael Oliver (University of the Witwatersrand. Evolutionary Studies Institute and School of Geosciences (South Africa))
Groenewald, David (Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont)
Rubidge, Bruce (University of the Witwatersrand. Evolutionary Studies Institute and School of Geosciences (South Africa))

Fecha:	2021
Resumen:	Pareiasaurs were relatively abundant, globally-distributed, herbivorous parareptiles of the mid to late Permian. The basal-most forms, all members of the Bradysauria, are restricted to the Guadalupian (mid-Permian) of South Africa and went extinct in the late Capitanian near the top of the Tapinocephalus Assemblage Zone. Currently four species are recognized in this group: Bradysaurus seeleyi, B. baini, Embrithosaurus schwarzi and Nochelesaurus alexanderi. These taxa have been poorly defined historically and based on a limited number of specimens, leaving the taxonomic diversity of the group open to doubt and limiting their utility in biostratigraphy. Here, we present our fourth and final contribution to improve the understanding of this group by providing a taxonomical and phylogenetic review, updated stratigraphical ranges, and updated diagnoses for each taxon within Bradysauria. Bradysaurus seeleyi is synonymized with Bradysaurus baini, resulting in three valid mid-Permian pareiasaur taxa: Bradysaurus baini, Embrithosaurus schwarzi and Nochelesaurus alexanderi. Our cladistic analysis of cranial and postcranial characters supports the monophyly of Bradysauria with five synapomorphies. Embrithosaurus schwarzi is recovered as the sister taxon to a clade containing Bradysaurus baini and Nochelesaurus alexanderi. By identifying 157 pareiasaur specimens in fossil collections we show that the Bradysauria are stratigraphically restricted to the Abrahamskraal Formation of the Beaufort Group and suggest a staggered appearance. Bradysaurus baini is first to appear, followed by Nochelesaurus alexanderi, and lastly by Embrithosaurus schwarzi. All three taxa perished during the Capitanian mass extinction, and have their highest occurrences near the top of the Abrahamskraal Formation.
Derechos:	Tots els drets reservats.
Lengua:	Anglès
Documento:	Article ; recerca ; Versió acceptada per publicar
Materia:	Bradysauria ; Capitanian ; Guadalupian ; Pareiasauria ; Tapinocephalus Assemblage Zone
Publicado en:	Journal of systematic palaeontology, Vol. 19, Issue 19 (2021) , p. 1367-1393, ISSN 1478-0941

DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2022.2035440

Postprint 76 p, 2.6 MB

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Documentos de investigación > Documentos de los grupos de investigación de la UAB > Centros y grupos de investigación (producción científica) > Ciencias > Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont (ICP)
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