Anningia Explained

Anningia is an extinct genus in Varanopidae, a family of monitor lizard-like amniotes. It contains a single species, Anningia megalops.^[1]

The species was first described by Robert Broom in 1927 as a transitional species between early synapsids and later occurring therapsids.^[2] While it was later suggested that the fossil material, a partial poorly preserved skull, was not diagnosable and that the species name is nomen vanum.^[3] It was assigned to Varanopidae (subfamily Mesenosaurinae) in 2018.^[4] The fossil is from the Permian of South Africa.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Anningia megalops Broom 1927. Paleobiology Database.
2. Broom . R. . April 1927 . On a New Type of Mammal‐like Reptile from the South African Karroo Beds Anningia megalops . Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London . 97 . 1 . 227–232 . 10.1111/j.1096-3642.1927.tb02256.x . 0370-2774. subscription .
3. Reisz . RR . Dilkes . DW . 1992 . The taxonomic position of Anningia megalops, a small amniote from the Permian of South Africa . Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences . 29 . 7 . 1605–1608. 10.1139/e92-126 .
4. F.. Spindler. R.. Werneburg. J. W.. Schneider. L.. Luthardt. V.. Annacker. R.. Rößler. 2018. First arboreal 'pelycosaurs' (Synapsida: Varanopidae) from the early Permian Chemnitz Fossil Lagerstätte, SE Germany, with a review of varanopid phylogeny. Paläontologische Zeitschrift. 92. 2 . 315–364. 10.1007/s12542-018-0405-9. 133846070 .