Yikezhaogia

Yikezhaogia
Temporal range: Early Triassic
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Synapsida
Order: Therapsida
Suborder: Therocephalia
Infraorder: Scylacosauria
Parvorder: Eutherocephalia
Superfamily: Baurioidea
Genus: Yikezhaogia
Li, 1984
Type species
Yikezhaogia megafenestrala
Li, 1984

Yikezhaogia is an extinct genus of therocephalian therapsid from the Early Triassic of Mongolia.[1] It is known from a single fragmentary skull and associated postcranial bones representing the species Yikezhaogia megafenestrala. It is identifiable as a therocephalian by its thin postorbital bar behind the eye socket, its elongated temporal opening behind the bar, and a thin lower jaw with a low coronoid process. Large tooth sockets in the upper jaw indicate that Yikezhaogia had large caniniform teeth. The teeth of the lower jaw are blunt-tipped and cylindrical.[2] Although its exact position among therocephalians is uncertain, Yikezhaogia is probably a basal member of the group Baurioidea.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Abdala, F.; Rubidge, B. S.; Van Den Heever, J. (2008). "The Oldest Therocephalians (Therapsida, Eutheriodontia) and the Early Diversification of Therapsida". Palaeontology 51 (4): 1011. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2008.00784.x.
  2. Sun, A. (1991). "A review of Chinese therocephalian reptiles" (PDF). Vertebrata PalAsiatica 29 (2): 85–94.