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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 August 2018

Jennifer A. Clack ,
Laura B. Porro  and
Carys E. Bennett
Jennifer A. Clack*
Affiliation:
University Museum of Zoology, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK. Email: jac18@cam.ac.uk
Laura B. Porro*
Affiliation:
Structure and Motion Laboratory, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield AL9 7TA, UK. School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UK.
Carys E. Bennett*
Affiliation:
School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK.
*
*Corresponding authors
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Abstract

The early tetrapod Crassigyrinus scoticus 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. Crassigyrinus retains several apparently primitive features of the palatal dentition and lower jaw, and its phylogenetic position is disputed. A partial lower jaw resembling that of Crassigyrinus 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 of C. scoticus. 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 of C. scoticus, as does the deeply excavated and marginally positioned lateral line groove. As well as external and internal features, all specimens of C. scoticus are of similar skull size, though the Burnmouth jaw is somewhat smaller. If correctly attributable to Crassigyrinus, this specimen extends the existence of the genus by approximately 20 million years towards the base of the Carboniferous.

Keywords

BurnmouthBorders regionRomer's GaptetrapodTW:eed project
Type
Articles
Information
Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of The Royal Society of Edinburgh , Volume 108 , Issue 1: A Legacy in Fossils: a Tribute to Stan Wood , March 2017 , pp. 37 - 46
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Society of Edinburgh 2018 

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