The side wall of the braincase in cynodont therapsids,and a note on the homology of the mammalian promontorium |
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Authors: | CE Gow |
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Institution: | Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, University of the Witwatersrand, 1 Jan Smuts Avenue, Johannesburg, 2001 Republic of South Africa |
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Abstract: | The side wall of the cynodont braincase is not sufficiently well understood to form a sound basis for morphological or phylogenetic inference. This paper describes in detail the trigeminal region of a series of cynodonts from lateral and mesial aspects. Genera dealt with are Thrinaxodon, Trirachodon, Diademodon and Tritylodon. A reinterpretation of aspects of the braincase of the tritylodontid Bienotherium is presented. Attention is drawn to a fundamental dichotomy between herbivorous cynodonts and the carnivorous line leading to mammals. Homology between the cynodont parasphenoid wing and mammalian promontorium is demonstrated. |
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