Brithopus Explained

Brithopus is an extinct genus of dinocephalian therapsids. It contains a single species, Brithopus priscus, known from fragmentary remains found in the CopperSandstones near Isheevo, Russia.

Description

Brithopus was fairly large, reaching a length of 2.5–3 m (8–10 ft).^[1] The skull was similar to Titanophoneus, but more massive and heavily built.^[2]

Classification

B. priscus was first named in 1838 and was traditionally classified in the Anteosauria, a group of carnivorous dinocephalians. Brithopus served as the basis for the family Brithopodidae, which once included many anteosaurian species. Because it is based on fragmentary material, Brithopus is regarded as a nomen dubium by some researchers. Brithopus was later considered a possible estemmenosuchid,^[3] a type of herbivorous tapinocephalian therapsid.^[4]

Dinosaurus and Eurosaurus have both been considered synonyms of Brithopus.^[5]

See also

• List of therapsids

External links

• Message to the Dinosaur Mailing List briefly detailing the history of the name

Notes and References

1. Web site: Palaeos Vertebrates Therapsida: Anteosauria. palaeos.com. 12 April 2018.
2. Olson, E.C. (1962). "Late Permian terrestrial vertebrates, U.S.A. and U.S.S.R." Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, New Series, 52: 1–224.
3. Kammerer, C. F. 2010. Systematics of the Anteosauria (Therapsida: Dinocephalia). Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, 9, 261-304.
4. Kammerer . C.F. . 2011 . Systematics of the Anteosauria (Therapsida: Dinocephalia) . Journal of Systematic Palaeontology . 9 . 2 . 261–304 . 10.1080/14772019.2010.492645. 84799772 .
5. Battail, B., and Surkov, M. V. (2000). "Mammal-like reptiles from Russia." The Age of Dinosaurs in Russia and Mongolia, 86-119.