Synapsida, the clade that includes mammals and their ancestors, represents one of the two principal branches of amniote vertebrates. Consequently, studying the structure and evolutionary history of basal synapsids provides valuable insights into the origin of the mammalian body plan. However, the anatomy and taxonomy of certain therapsid groups remains unclear. The cranial anatomy of several gorgonopsian taxa is still unknown with many anatomical aspects of the occiput, cranial nerves and internal nasal structures not yet fully characterized. This work describes the morphology of a well-preserved gorgonopsian skull, NHCC LB178, from the late Permian of Zambia based on three-dimensional computed tomography reconstructions. Description of the cranial anatomy of this specimen provides novel and potentially unique autapomorphies for the genus Lycaenops. Additionally, NHCC LB178 represents the first known specimen of Lycaenops found in the Madumabisa Mudstone of Zambia, providing an expanded geographic distribution for this genus.
"},{"label":"Degree","value":["Bachelor of Arts with Departmental Honors"]},{"label":"Author-supplied Keywords","value":["Synapsids","Vertebrate paleontology","Anatomy"]},{"label":"Administrative Note","value":"Drupal Node ID: 33897