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[Paleontology • 2019] Carbonodraco lundi • the Oldest Parareptile (Amniota: Parareptilia), from Linton, Ohio, and New Insights Into the early Radiation of Reptiles
Abstract Redescription of the holotype specimen of Cephalerpeton ventriarmatum Moodie, 1912, from the Middle Pennsylvanian (Moscovian) Francis Creek Shale of Mazon Creek, Illinois, confirms that it is a basal eureptile with close postcranial similarities to other protorothyridids, such as Anthracodromeus and Paleothyris. The skull is long and lightly built, with large orbits and a dorsoventrally short mandible similar to most basal eureptiles. Two specimens referred previously to Cephalerpeton cf. C. ventriarmatum from the approximately coeval Linton, Ohio, locality differ significantly from the holotype in cranial and mandibular proportions and tooth morphology. This material and an additional Linton specimen compare favourably to ‘short-faced’ parareptiles, such as Colobomycter and Acleistorhinus, and justify recognition of an acleistorhinid parareptile in the Linton assemblage. The new binomen is thus the oldest known parareptile. Keywords: Pennsylvanian, Amniota, Carboniferous, Mazon Creek, Parareptilia, Eureptilia Subjects
Systematic palaeontology Tetrapoda Jaekel, 1909 Amniota Haeckel, 1866 Parareptilia Olson, 1947 Acleistorhinidae Daly, 1969 Carbonodraco gen. nov. Carbonodraco lundi sp. nov. =Cephalerpeton cf. C. ventriarmatum Reisz and Baird 1983 Etymology: Generic name derived from the Latin words ‘Carbo’ (coal), and ‘Draco’ (serpent). Specific name is in honour of Dr Richard Lund, who found the holotype.
Arjan Mann, Emily J. McDaniel, Emily R. McColville and Hillary C. Maddin. 2019. Carbonodraco lundi gen et sp. nov., the Oldest Parareptile, from Linton, Ohio, and New Insights Into the early Radiation of Reptiles. Royal Society Open Science. 6 (11): 191191. DOI: 10.1098/rsos.191191 |
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