The Diversity of German Middle Triassic Parareptiles

Owenettids and procolophonids from the lower Keuper shed new light on the diversity of parareptiles in the German Middle Triassic

Authors:

Martinelli et al

Abstract:

We report three isolated humeri of small-sized parareptiles, which represent two different taxa, from the lower Keuper (Erfurt Formation) of Germany. They constitute the first definitive evidence of parareptiles in the lower Keuper. The specimens represent the first records of an owenettid procolophonian (aff. Barasaurus) from Europe and of a putative gracile-built procolophonid. This indicates the coexistence in the Middle Triassic of Germany of two procolophonian lineages that first appeared in the fossil record in the late Permian and survived the Permian–Triassic extinction. Although based on isolated limb bones, they highlight the taxonomic diversity of the still poorly known tetrapod assemblage of the lower Keuper in southwestern Germany.

An Anisian Triassic Procolophonid Found in Iberia

A potential record of a procolophonid parareptile from the Triassic of the Iberian Peninsula

Authors:

Fortuny et al

Abstract:

Cranial and postcranial remains from the Middle Triassic of the NorthEastern part of the Iberian Peninsula are reported and tentatively assigned to Procolophonidae. The finding is the first occurrence of a procolophonid parareptile in the Iberian Peninsula, representing the southernmost record of the group in Europe. The fossil bearing locality is dated as Anisian (Middle Triassic) and includes three tooth-bearing bones, two cranial bone fragments and one interclavicle. The mandible described herein includes nine teeth. No cusps or complete crowns are preserved, but sections of the teeth are available. The three anterior teeth progressively decrease in size from front to back, while the teeth from the fourth to the eighth position present the opposite trend. The last tooth (the ninth) is clearly reduced in comparison to the previous ones. A close relationship with Anomoiodon-Kapes is suggested, however, more material is required in order to assess the exact taxonomical determination of the Iberian remains. This finding is expected to shed some light on the geographical distribution of procolophonines.

Ruhuhuaria reiszi: a New Procolophonoid Reptile From Anisian Triassic Tanzania

Ruhuhuaria reiszi, a new procolophonoid reptile from the Triassic Ruhuhu Basin of Tanzania

Authors:

Linda Akiko Tsuji, Gabriela Sobral and Johannes Müller

Abstract:

The Middle Triassic Lifua Member of the Manda Formation (Ruhuhu Basin, southwestern Tanzania) hosts a diverse fauna dominated by therapsids and archosauromorphs. Reexamination of fossils from previous expeditions in addition to new field collections has brought many new taxa to light. Discovered in the collections of the Cambridge Museum of Zoology, Ruhuhuaria reiszi gen. et sp. nov. is the first procolophonoid reptile described from the Ruhuhu Basin. Although the fossil is poorly preserved, CT scanning reveals crucial diagnostic morphology, in particular the highly labio-lingually expanded tooth bases and enlarged anterior dentary teeth. A phylogenetic analysis shows Ruhuhuaria is nested within the owenettids, but results in an otherwise poorly resolved tree. The discovery of Ruhuhuaria provides further evidence of the persistence of owenettids into the Middle Triassic, and their coexistence with procolophonids well into the Triassic.