Biology:Brithopus

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Short description: Extinct genus of mammal ancestors

Brithopus
Temporal range: Middle Permian, Ufimian
Brithopus priscus1DB.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Synapsida
Clade: Therapsida
Suborder: Dinocephalia
Family: Brithopodidae
Genus: Brithopus
Kutorga, 1838
Species:
B. priscus
Binomial name
Brithopus priscus
Kutorga, 1838
Synonyms
  • Rhopalodon murchisoni Fischer, 1845
  • Dinosaurus murchisoni (Fischer, 1845)

Brithopus is an extinct genus of dinocephalian therapsids. It contains a single species, Brithopus priscus, known from fragmentary remains found in the Copper Sandstones near Isheevo, Russia .

Description

Brithopus was fairly large, reaching a length of 2.5–3 m (8–10 ft).[1] The skull was similar to Titanophoneus, but more massive and heavily built.[2]

Classification

B. priscus was first named in 1838 and was traditionally classified in the Anteosauria, a group of carnivorous dinocephalians. Brithopus served as the basis for the family Brithopodidae, which once included many anteosaurian species. Because it is based on fragmentary material, Brithopus is regarded as a nomen dubium by some researchers. Brithopus was later considered a possible estemmenosuchid,[3] a type of herbivorous tapinocephalian therapsid.[4]

Dinosaurus and Eurosaurus have both been considered synonyms of Brithopus.[5]

See also

  • List of therapsids

References

  1. "Palaeos Vertebrates Therapsida: Anteosauria". http://palaeos.com/vertebrates/therapsida/anteosauria.html. 
  2. Olson, E.C. (1962). "Late Permian terrestrial vertebrates, U.S.A. and U.S.S.R." Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, New Series, 52: 1–224.
  3. Kammerer, C. F. 2010. Systematics of the Anteosauria (Therapsida: Dinocephalia). Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, 9, 261-304.
  4. Kammerer, C.F. (2011). "Systematics of the Anteosauria (Therapsida: Dinocephalia)". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 9 (2): 261–304. doi:10.1080/14772019.2010.492645. 
  5. Battail, B., and Surkov, M. V. (2000). "Mammal-like reptiles from Russia." The Age of Dinosaurs in Russia and Mongolia, 86-119.

External links

Wikidata ☰ Q1064323 entry