Article: The mammal-like reptile Rechnisaurus from the Triassic of India

Rechnisaurus cristarhynchus from the Yerrapalli Formation (Middle Triassic) of the Pranhita Godavari valley of India was described as a stahleckeriid dicynodont on the basis of its blunt snout and lack of a high parietal crest. Another large Triassic dicynodont, but with a pointed snout, from the N'tawere Formation of Zambia was also designated as Rechnisaurus cristarhynchus, while a skull from the Omingonde Formation of Namibia was named Kannemeyeria simocephala. Keyser and Cruickshank considered all these three species to be examples of K. cristarhynchus. A re-examination of the Indian R. cristarhynchus shows that this species is quite distinct from the other kannemeyeriid and stahleckeriid genera. Because of its incomplete nature the cranial measurements used for the classification of large Triassic dicynodonts cannot be applied to it. Until complete material of this species is found, R. cristarhynchus from India should be considered as incertae sedis.