Therocephalian (Therapsida) and chroniosuchian (Reptiliomorpha) from the Permo-Triassic transitional Guodikeng Formation of the Dalongkou Section, Jimsar, Xinjiang, China

Abstract

The Guodikeng Formation encompasses the terrestrial Permo-Triassic transitionsequence in China. This formation crops out in the Dalongkou section, Jimsar, Xinjiang where remains of the dicynodonts Jimusaria and Lystrosaurus were found. We are describing here a therocephalian and a chroniosuchian from the Dalongkou section, which are the first records of these groups for the Guodikeng Formation. Diagnostic characters of the new therocephalian, Dalongkoua fuae gen. and sp. nov., include maxillary ventral margin strongly concave in lateral view; incisors spatulated and rounded; incisors and canines with faint serrations; coronoid process of the dentary with a marked external adductor fossa; triangular reflected lamina of the angular with two smooth concavities. Chroniosuchians are represented by several postcranial elements and the vertebral morphology is similar to Bystrowiana and Bystrowiella. These remainsare interpreted as representing a Bystrowianidae indeterminate. The new findings increase the diversity of the Guodikeng Formation that is now represented by three or four dicynodonts, one therocephalian and one chroniosuchian. All these groups survived the massive P-T extinction but disappear from the fossil record in the Middle to Upper Triassic.