The sphenacodontid synapsid Neosaurus cynodus, and related material, from the Permo-Carboniferous of France

Abstract

Sphenacodontid synapsids were major components of early Permian ecosystems. Despite their abundance in the North

New basal synapsid discovery at the Permian outcrop of Torre del Porticciolo (Alghero, Italy)

“…While most of the sphenacodontid material described is from North America, with the four main genera Ctenospondylus , Dimetrodon , Secodontosaurus , and Sphenacodon very well represented (Fröbisch et al, ), the European record for the clade is far more lacunose and limited (see also Falconnet, ). Five sphenacodontid taxa are reported from the European continent (see Fröbisch et al, ), including D. teutonis from Thuringia, Germany (Berman et al, ; Berman, Henrici, Sumida, & Martens, ); Cryptovenator hirschbergeri from the Rhineland Palatinate, Germany (Fröbisch et al, ); a possible Sphenacodon (previously “ Oxyodon ” brittanicus , see Paton, ; von Huene, ) from England; Macromerion from Kounová, Czech Republic (based on poorly known material); and Neosaurus from Moissey, France (see Fritsch, ; Fröbisch et al, ; Leidy, ; Nopcsa, ; Sphenacodontidae indeterminate in Falconnet, ). In addition, three further specimens (i.e., MNHN.F.LOD213, UM 5902, and UM 5903) must be added from the Lodève Basin (France), referred to Sphenacodontidae indeterminate by Falconnet ().…”

“…Five sphenacodontid taxa are reported from the European continent (see Fröbisch et al, ), including D. teutonis from Thuringia, Germany (Berman et al, ; Berman, Henrici, Sumida, & Martens, ); Cryptovenator hirschbergeri from the Rhineland Palatinate, Germany (Fröbisch et al, ); a possible Sphenacodon (previously “ Oxyodon ” brittanicus , see Paton, ; von Huene, ) from England; Macromerion from Kounová, Czech Republic (based on poorly known material); and Neosaurus from Moissey, France (see Fritsch, ; Fröbisch et al, ; Leidy, ; Nopcsa, ; Sphenacodontidae indeterminate in Falconnet, ). In addition, three further specimens (i.e., MNHN.F.LOD213, UM 5902, and UM 5903) must be added from the Lodève Basin (France), referred to Sphenacodontidae indeterminate by Falconnet (). Thus, the new specimen from Torre del Porticciolo would represent the ninth report of a sphenacodontid from Europe, throwing new light on the diversity of this faunivorous clade of non‐therapsid synapsids on the continent.…”

“…Neosaurus from Moissey, France (see Fritsch, 1889;Fröbisch et al, 2011;Leidy, 1854;Nopcsa, 1923;Sphenacodontidae indeterminate in Falconnet, 2015). In addition, three further specimens (i.e., MNHN.F.LOD213, UM 5902, and UM 5903) must be added from the Lodève Basin (France), referred to Sphenacodontidae indeterminate by Falconnet (2015). Thus, the new specimen from Torre del Porticciolo would represent the ninth report of a sphenacodontid from Europe, throwing new light on the diversity of this faunivorous clade of non-therapsid synapsids on the continent.…”

“…More recent work through new fossil discovery or re‐description of previously discovered fossil materials has improved this record for Europe. These newer studies include Haptodus from England, Germany, France, and Poland (Currie, ; Paton, ); Ophiacodon from England (Paton, ); Neosaurus from France (Falconnet, ; Reisz, ; Romer & Price, ); Dimetrodon from Germany (Berman, Henrici, Sumida, & Martens, ; Berman, Reisz, Martens, & Henrici, ); Sphenacodon from England (Paton, ); Cryptovenator from Germany (Fröbisch, Schoch, Müller, Schindler, & Schweiss, ); Callibrachion from France (Spindler, Falconnet, & Fröbisch, ); Datheosaurus from Poland (Spindler et al, ); undescribed caseids from Germany (see Berman et al, ; Berman, Henrici, Kissel, Sumida, & Martens, ; Berman, Henrici, & Sumida, ; Berman, Henrici, Sumida, & Martens, ; Berman, Henrici, Sumida, Martens, & Pelletier, ; Eberth, Berman, Sumida, & Hopf, ; Reisz, Fröbisch, Berman, & Henrici, ; Sumida et al, ) and from the Lodève Basin in France (Schneider, Körner, Roscher, & Kroner, ); Tambacarnifex from Germany (Berman et al, ); postcranial remains of an edaphosaurid from the Saar‐Nahe basin in Germany (Voigt et al, ); Euromycter (formerly Casea after Reisz, Maddin, Fröbisch, & Falconnet, ) from France (Sigogneau‐Russell & Russell, ); and Edaphosaurus from Germany (Reisz, ; Romer & Price, ).…”

Re-evaluation of the historic Canadian fossil Bathygnathus borealis from the Early Permian of Prince Edward Island

“…This clade includes the well-known apex predator Dimetrodon, as well as its contemporaries Ctenospondylus, Secodontosaurus, and Sphenacodon, identifiable by its elongate dorsal neural spine morphologies. Several sphenacodontids are known from tooth-bearing elements only, including Cryptovenator hirschbergeri (Fröbisch et al 2011), "Neosaurus cynodus" (Falconnet 2015), "Steppesaurus gurleyi" (Olson 1962;Sidor and Hopson 1995), "Sphenacodon" britannicus (Eberth 1985;Paton 1974), and B. borealis. There are few diagnostic cranial differences within Sphenacodontidae, which has confounded attempts to determine the relationships of B. borealis within this clade (Reisz 1986).…”