Cranial anatomy of the gorgonopsian Cynariops robustus based on CT-reconstruction

PLoS One. 2018 Nov 28;13(11):e0207367. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207367. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Gorgonopsia is one of the major clades of non-mammalian synapsids, and includes an array of large-bodied carnivores that were the top terrestrial predators of the late Permian. Most research on the clade has focused on these largest members; small-bodied gorgonopsians are relatively little-studied. Here, we redescribe a small gorgonopsian skull (MB.R.999) from the late Permian (Tropidostoma Assemblage Zone) of South Africa on the basis of neutron and synchrotron CT reconstructions, which yield new data on internal cranial morphology in Gorgonopsia. Because of the largely undistorted nature of MB.R.999, we were also able to reconstruct unossified areas such as the brain endocast and the otic labyrinth. MB.R.999 can be referred to the taxon Cynariops robustus based on its general skull proportions, postcanine tooth count, preparietal morphology, and vomerine morphology. We refer additional small gorgonopsian specimens from the Victoria West area to Cynariops robustus, and consider Cynarioides grimbeeki and Cynarioides laticeps to be synonymous with C. robustus. Inclusion of Cynariops in a phylogenetic analysis of Gorgonopsia recovers it within a large clade of African taxa, more closely related to Lycaenops and rubidgeines than Eriphostoma or Gorgonops.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Fossils*
  • Skull / anatomy & histology*
  • Skull / diagnostic imaging*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*
  • Vertebrates / anatomy & histology*

Grants and funding

Research by EMB, CFK, and JF was supported by a Sofja Kovalevskaja Award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation to JF. CFK was further supported by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (KA4133/1-1) and by the Museum für Naturkunde. This research received support from the SYNTHESYS Project (http://www.synthesys.info/) which is financed by European Community Research Infrastructure Action under the FP7 Integrating Activities Programme. The publication of this article was funded by the Open Access Fund of the Leibniz Association.