Xenotosuchus

Xenotosuchus
Xenotosuchus skull, showing the full complement of tetrapod skull roof bones
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Subclass: Labyrinthodontia
Order: Temnospondyli
Suborder: Stereospondyli
Superfamily: Mastodonsauroidea
Family: Mastodonsauridae
Genus: Xenotosaurus
Morales and Shishkin, 2002
Species
  • X. africanus Morales and Shishkin, 2002 (type)

Xenotosuchus is an extinct genus of mastodonsauroid temnospondyl within the family Mastodonsauridae. The genus is based on a skull originally described as Parotosuchus, an animal which it resembled in general build and habit.[1]

Xenotosuchus in life

Life reconstruction of a broadly similar genus Mastodonsaurus, giving an impression of Xenotosuchus in life. Xenotosuchus would not have the lower tusks poking through the upper jaw though.

Like many mastodontosaurids, it was a large animal with a large head. It's amphibian life history meant that the distinct shape of the skull roof would change from a general tadpole-like skull type through to the distinct adult shape.[2] The head bones are covered in large pits and grooves, indicating extensive dermal armour on the head. Both the upper and lower jaw had tusks, those of the upper jaw being situated on a 2nd row of teeth on the vomer and palatine bone. Contrary to related forms like Mastodonsaurus, the tusks of the lower jaw were of moderate size and did not penetrate the premaxilla.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Morales, M.; Shishkin, M. A. (2002). "A Re-Assessment of Parotosuchus africanus (Broom), a Capitosauroid Temnospondyl Amphibian from the Triassic of South Africa". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 22 (1): 1–11. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2002)022[0001:araopa]2.0.co;2. JSTOR 4524188.
  2. ↑ Damiani, R. (2008). "A giant skull of the temnospondyl Xenotosuchus africanus from the Middle Triassic of South Africa and its ontogenetic implications" (PDF). Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 53 (1): 75–84. doi:10.4202/app.2008.0104.

See also


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