Cranial osteology and a new diagnosis of the late Permian pareiasaur Nanoparia luckhoffi (Broom, 1936) from the Karoo Basin of South Africa, and a consolidated pareiasaurian phylogeny

Authors

  • Marc Johan Van den Brandt Evolutionary Studies Institute (ESI), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, PO WITS 2050, South Africa. marcvandenbrandt@gmail.com (Corresponding author) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4967-7827
  • Juan Carlos Cisneros Museu de Arqueologia e Paleontologia, Universidade Federal do Piauí, 64049-550, Teresina, PI, Brazil. juan.cisneros@ufpi.edu.br https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6159-1981
  • Fernando Abdala Evolutionary Studies Institute (ESI), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, PO WITS 2050, South Africa; Unidad Ejecutora Lillo, CONICET-Fundación Miguel Lillo, Miguel Lillo 251, Tucumán, Argentina. nestor.abdala@wits.ac.za https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9838-2497
  • Elena Ilyinichna Boyarinova Borissiak Paleontological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117647, Moscow, Russia; Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, 420008, Kazan, Russia. boyarinova@paleo.ru https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8689-9874
  • Valeriy Konstantinovich Golubev Borissiak Paleontological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117647, Moscow, Russia; Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, 420008, Kazan, Russia. vg@paleo.ru https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6087-0962
  • Luke Allan Norton Evolutionary Studies Institute (ESI), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, PO WITS 2050, South Africa. luke.norton@wits.ac.za https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9434-9267
  • Viktor Josef Radermacher Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States; Evolutionary Studies Institute (ESI), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, PO WITS 2050, South Africa. viktorsaurus91@gmail.com https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6524-7811
  • Bruce Sidney Rubidge Evolutionary Studies Institute (ESI), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, PO WITS 2050, South Africa. bruce.rubidge@wits.ac.za https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2477-1873

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4072/rbp.2023.4.04

Abstract

Pareiasaurs were an enigmatic and diverse group of parareptilian herbivores of the middle and late Permian. Nanoparia luckhoffi was erected in 1936 but remains the least well-known member of four “dwarf” pareiasaurs that comprise Pumiliopareiasauria. After new preparation of the holotype, we present the first detailed cranial description of Nanoparia luckhoffi and a new diagnosis for the taxon
based on seven autapomorphies: (1) an additional bone on the posterior margin of the cheek flange between the squamosal and quadratojugal; (2) a pyramidal-shaped parietal; (3) a very short, square lacrimal; (4) paired prepalatal foramina positioned anterolaterally on the internal premaxillary palatal flange; (5) notch on anteromedial border of the choana; (6) a ventral flange formed by the lateral margin of the internal tabulars; and (7) tabulars that extend posteriorly further than the supratemporals. We find evidence supporting a juvenile ontogenetic state for the holotype, including small skull; unossified open cranial sutures; an unossified dorsal braincase; and fewer marginal teeth than most pareiasaurs. An updated phylogeny recovers Nanoparia as a sister taxon to Provelosaurus americanus from Brazil and remains a constituent member of Pumiliopareiasauria.

Keywords: Nanoparia, Pumiliopareiasauria, Pareiasauria, Parareptilia, late Permian, Gondwana.

RESUMO – Os pareiassauros foram um enigmático e diverso grupo de pararrépteis herbívoros do Permiano médio e inferior. Nanoparia luckhoffi foi proposta em 1936, mas é um dos menos conhecidos pareiassauros “anões” que formam os Pumiliopareiasauria. Após nova preparação do holótipo, apresentamos a primeira descrição detalhada de Nanoparia luckhoffi e uma nova diagnose para o táxon, baseado em sete autapomorfias: (1) um osso adicional na margem posterior da aba temporal entre o esquamosal e o quadradojugal; (2) parietal com formato piramidal; (3) lacrimal muito curto e com formato quadrado; (4) forame prepalatal posicionado anterolateralmente na vista interna da pré-maxila; (5) entalhe na borda anteromedial da coana; (6) aba ventral ao longo da margem lateral na vista interna dos tabulares; e (7) tabulares estendendo-se posteriormente mais do que os supratemporais. Encontramos evidência que apoia um estágio juvenil no holótipo, incluindo crânio pequeno, suturas cranianas abertas, não-ossificadas; neurocrânio não-ossificado; e menos dentes marginais do que a maioria dos pareiassauros. Uma filogenia atualizada mostra a Nanoparia como o táxon irmão de Provelosaurus americanus do Brasil, continuando como membro dos Pumiliopareiasauria.

Palavras-chave: Nanoparia, Pumiliopareiasauria, Pareiasauria, Parareptilia, Permiano superior, Gonduana.

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Published

2024-03-10

How to Cite

Van den Brandt, M. J., Cisneros, J. C., Abdala, F., Boyarinova, E. I., Golubev, V. K., Norton, L. A., Radermacher, V. J., & Rubidge, B. S. (2024). Cranial osteology and a new diagnosis of the late Permian pareiasaur Nanoparia luckhoffi (Broom, 1936) from the Karoo Basin of South Africa, and a consolidated pareiasaurian phylogeny. Revista Brasileira De Paleontologia, 26(4), 288–314. https://doi.org/10.4072/rbp.2023.4.04

Issue

Vol. 26 No. 4 (2023): Revista Brasileira de Paleontologia

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Articles

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