Brithopus

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.

Brithopus
Temporal range: Middle Permian, Ufimian
Scientific classification Edit this classification
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)

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

References
  1. "Palaeos Vertebrates Therapsida: Anteosauria". palaeos.com. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  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. S2CID 84799772.
  5. Battail, B., and Surkov, M. V. (2000). "Mammal-like reptiles from Russia." The Age of Dinosaurs in Russia and Mongolia, 86-119.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.