| Youngina Temporal range: Late Permian, 250 Ma |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Sauropsida |
| Subclass: | Diapsida |
| (unranked) | Neodiapsida
Benton, 1985 |
| Order: | Eosuchia (defunct) |
| Superfamily: | Younginiformes |
| Family: | Younginidae |
| Genus: | Youngina Broom, 1914 |
| Species: | Youngina capensis Broom, 1914 |
Youngina is an extinct genus of diapsid reptile from the Late Permian Beaufort Group (Tropidostoma-Dicynodon zones) of the Karoo Red Beds of South Africa.[1] This, and a few related forms, make up the family Younginidae, within the Order Eosuchia (proposed by Broom in 1924). Eosuchia, having become a dustbin for many probably distantly-related primitive diapsid reptiles ranging from the Late Carboniferous to the Eocene, Romer proposed that it be replaced by Younginiformes (that included Younginidae and the Tangasauridae, ranging from the Permian to the Triassic).
Youngina is known from several specimens. Many of these were attributed to as separate genera and species (such as Youngoides and Youngopsis), but it was later realized that they were not distinct from Y. capensis.[2] The holotype specimen of Youngina was described briefly in the early 20th century.[3] The "Youngoides romeri" specimen was first attributed to Youngina,[4] but later given its eponymous and separate designation in a later paper.[5] Acanthotoposaurus[6] is also a junior synonym of Youngina.[7]
Youngina was once thought to be closely related to Acerosodontosaurus, and more distantly to tangasaurids (Kenyasaurus, Hovasaurus, Thadeosaurus, and Tangasaurus), but the monophyly of younginiforms has not been demonstrated in published analyses of diapsid reptiles, and it is likely this group is paraphyletic. Acerosodontosaurus is probably closer to other former "younginiforms", rather than being closely related to Youngina.[8]
Youngina could have been a moderately sized early reptile (skull length < 7 centimetres (2.8 in)), comparable to size to some medium-sized monitor lizards such as Gould's monitor.[9] There were likely no mobile articulations between the palate and braincase, similar to the skull of the tuatara,[10] contrary to some earlier claims made about the metakinetic mobility of basicranial joints in Youngina and other early diapsid reptiles.[11][12]