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A Crassigyrinus-like jaw from the Tournaisian (Early Mississippian) of Scotland

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Clack, Jennifer A 
Porro, Laura B 
Bennet, Carys E 

Abstract

jats:titleABSTRACT</jats:title>jats:pThe early tetrapodjats:italicCrassigyrinus scoticus</jats:italic>was a large aquatic predator from the mid Carboniferous (late Viséan or early Serpukovian) of Scotland, around 330 My in age. There are five main specimens with cranial remains: an articulated skeleton; two incomplete skulls; and two lower jaws.jats:italicCrassigyrinus</jats:italic>retains several apparently primitive features of the palatal dentition and lower jaw, and its phylogenetic position is disputed. A partial lower jaw resembling that ofjats:italicCrassigyrinus</jats:italic>was discovered at Burnmouth in the Borders region of Scotland. The horizon in which it was found is dated as late Tournaisian, CM palynozone, around 350 My in age. Though it lacks dentition, the jaw preserves much of the postsplenial, angular and surangular, whose appearance externally and internally is almost identical to that ofjats:italicC. scoticus</jats:italic>. Internally, the jaw shows a similarly limited extent of the suturing between the splenial series and the prearticular, a primitive condition. Externally, the type and distribution of dermal ornamentation closely matches that ofjats:italicC. scoticus</jats:italic>, as does the deeply excavated and marginally positioned lateral line groove. As well as external and internal features, all specimens ofjats:italicC. scoticus</jats:italic>are of similar skull size, though the Burnmouth jaw is somewhat smaller. If correctly attributable tojats:italicCrassigyrinus</jats:italic>, this specimen extends the existence of the genus by approximately 20 million years towards the base of the Carboniferous.</jats:p>

Description

Keywords

Burnmouth, Borders region, Romer's Gap, tetrapod, TW:eed project

Journal Title

EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1755-6910
1755-6929

Volume Title

Publisher

Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Sponsorship
Natural Environment Research Council (NE/J022713/1)
LBP was funded by a Marie Curie International Incoming Research Fellowship (“Tetrapods Rising”, 300161), and for JAC and CEB by NERC consortium grants NE/J022713/1 and NE/J020729/1 known as the TW:eed project. This is a contribution to IGCP project 596.