Elephantosaurus

Elephantosaurus
Temporal range: Ladinian
~242–237 Ma
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Synapsida
Clade: Therapsida
Suborder: Anomodontia
Clade: Dicynodontia
Clade: Kannemeyeriiformes
Genus: Elephantosaurus
Vjuschkov, 1969
Type species
Elephantosaurus jachimovitschi
Vjuschkov, 1969

Elephantosaurus is an extinct genus of dicynodont from the Middle Triassic (Ladinian) Bukobay Formation. The holotype and only known specimen, catalogued as PIN 525/25, is a fragment of the skull that includes portions of the left interorbital region and nasal bones, and suggests a very large animal with a skull at least 30 centimetres (12 in) wide[1] (although it may have been smaller than Stahleckeria). The bones of the skull roof are also unusually thick. While usually considered a member of the Stahleckeriidae, generally due to its size, it probably falls just outside the group due to its frontal bone contributing substantially to the margin of the eye socket.[2]

  1. ^ V’yushkov, V.P., 1969. New dicynodonts from the Triassic of the Cis-Urals. Paleontol. Zh. 1969, 99 – 106 (in Russian).
  2. ^ Kammerer, C.F.; Fröbisch, J.R.; Angielczyk, K.D. (2013). "On the Validity and Phylogenetic Position of Eubrachiosaurus browni, a Kannemeyeriiform Dicynodont (Anomodontia) from Triassic North America". PLOS ONE. 8 (5): e64203. Bibcode:2013PLoSO...864203K. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0064203. PMC 3669350. PMID 23741307.