Data from: A new taxon of cistecephalid dicynodont from the upper Permian Kundaram Formation of India

A new cistecephalid dicynodont, Sauroscaptor tharavati gen. et sp. nov., is described from the upper Permian Kundaram Formation of India. This taxon is represented by specimens formerly referred to the African dicynodont genera Cistecephalus and Emydops. Sauroscaptor can be distinguished from other cistecephalids by the extremely posterior position of the pineal foramen (overhanging the edge of the occiput), bipartite nuchal crest, and relatively narrow skull roof. The recognition of Sauroscaptor as a distinct cistecephalid taxon adds to the increasing evidence for high levels of basinal endemism in this family. However, dicynodont biogeographical patterns are complex, and there is no simple relationship between inferred dispersal ability based on body size and levels of endemicity within clades.

本文记述了产自印度上二叠统昆达拉姆组（Kundaram Formation）的杯头兽科（Cistecephalidae）二齿兽（Dicynodont）新属新种：Sauroscaptor tharavati。该类群的标本最初曾被归入非洲的二齿兽类杯头兽属（Cistecephalus）与泽龟兽属（Emydops）。Sauroscaptor可通过以下特征与其他杯头兽科成员相区分：松果孔（pineal foramen）位置极度靠后（延伸至枕骨（occiput）边缘上方）、二分状颈脊（nuchal crest）以及相对窄小的头骨顶盖（skull roof）。将Sauroscaptor认定为独立的杯头兽科类群，进一步充实了该科存在高度盆地特有性（basinal endemism）的相关证据。但二齿兽类的生物地理格局较为复杂，基于体型大小推断的扩散能力与支系（clade）内的特有性水平之间并无简单的对应关系。