Pristerognathus

Priss-teh-ro-nay-fus.
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Emily Green

Paleobotanist

Emily Green brings the ancient world of plants to life through her insightful research and engaging writing. Her expertise lies in examining how prehistoric vegetation influenced climate patterns and animal evolution.

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Name

Pristerognathus ‭(‬saw end jaw‭?)‬.

Phonetic

Priss-teh-ro-nay-fus.

Named By

Harry Govier Seeley‭ ‬-‭ ‬1895.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Synaspida,‭ ‬Therapsida,‭ ‬Therocephalia,‭ ‬Scylacosauridae.

Diet

Carnivore.

Species

P.‭ ‬baini,‭ ‬P.‭ ‬platyrhinus,‭ ‬P.‭ ‬polyodon

Size

Skull about‭ ‬25‭ ‬centimetres long.‭ ‬Body length about‭ ‬1.5‭ ‬meters long.

Known locations

South Africa‭ ‬-‭ ‬Pristerognathus Assemblage Zone‭ (‬Beaufort Group‭)‬.

Time Period

Capitanian of the Permian.

Fossil representation

Few individuals mostly by skull material.

In Depth

       Pristerognathus was a medium sized predator that lived in South Africa during the Capitanian stage of the Permian.‭ ‬Another species of Pristerognathus,‭ ‬P.‭ ‬minor,‭ ‬was later re-described as a new genus,‭ ‬Pristerognathoides.‭ ‬However since this time there has been occasional speculation that Pristerognathoides should be made a synonym to Pristerognathus.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬On Two New Therocephalian Reptiles‭ (‬Glanosuchus macrops and Pristerognathus baini‭)‬.‭ ‬Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society‭ ‬15:85-88.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Robert Broom‭ ‬-‭ ‬1904.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT