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]

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

See also

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References

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  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.
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