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Article: Redescription of Arganasaurus (Metoposaurus) azerouali (Dutuit) comb. nov. from the Upper Triassic of the Argana Basin (Morocco), and the first phylogenetic analysis of the Metoposauridae (Amphibia, Temnospondyli)

Papers in Palaeontology - Volume 5 Issue 4 - Cover
Publication: Papers in Palaeontology
Volume: 5
Part: 4
Publication Date: November 2019
Page(s): 699 717
Author(s): Valentin Buffa, Nour‐Eddine Jalil, and J.‐Sebastien Steyer
DOI: 10.1002/spp2.1259
Addition Information

How to Cite

BUFFA, V., JALIL, N., STEYER, J. 2019. . Papers in Palaeontology, 5, 4, 699-717. DOI: /doi/10.1002/spp2.1259

Author Information

  • Valentin Buffa - Centre de Recherche en Paléontologie ‐ Paris UMR 7207 CNRS‐MNHN‐UPMC Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle CP38, 8 rue Buffon 75005 Paris France
  • Nour‐Eddine Jalil - Centre de Recherche en Paléontologie ‐ Paris UMR 7207 CNRS‐MNHN‐UPMC Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle CP38, 8 rue Buffon 75005 Paris France
  • Nour‐Eddine Jalil - BioDEcos Département de géologie Faculté des Sciences Semlalia Université Cadi Ayyad Marrakech Maroc
  • J.‐Sebastien Steyer - Centre de Recherche en Paléontologie ‐ Paris UMR 7207 CNRS‐MNHN‐UPMC Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle CP38, 8 rue Buffon 75005 Paris France

Publication History

  • Issue published online: 19 October 2019
  • Manuscript Accepted: 10 December 2018
  • Manuscript Received: 22 May 2018

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Abstract

A systematic revision of the temnospondyl ‘Metoposaurusazerouali Dutuit from the Late Triassic of the Argana Basin (Western High Atlas, Morocco) is presented. The type material is redescribed in detail, and a preliminary phylogenetic analysis – the first one dealing with all metoposaurid species – is also conducted in order to test its position within the Metoposauridae. Our analysis places ‘Metoposaurusazerouali as sister‐taxon to Arganasaurus lyazidi in a robust clade supported by two unambiguous synapomorphies (bulge‐like tabular horn and exoccipital process visible in dorsal view) and two ambiguous synapomorphies (cultriform process of uniform width and subtriangular posterior Meckelian fenestra). We therefore propose the new combination Arganasaurus azerouali comb. nov. for the species ‘M.’ azerouali. Our analysis also confirms that the central Laurasian genus Metoposaurus is monophyletic but not the genus Koskinonodon, which deserves its own systematic revision. By consequent, the Late Triassic rich vertebrate fauna from the Argana Basin comprises the metoposauroid Almasaurus habazzi, the basal metoposaurid Dutuitosaurus ouazzoui, and the genus Arganasaurus which is represented by the type species A. lyazidi and A. azerouali comb. nov. Combined with the stratigraphical and geographical occurrences of the taxa, our phylogenetic analysis suggests that metoposaurids may have appeared during the Longobardian (late Ladinian) in central Pangea. Their diversification may be linked to the Carnian Pluvial Episode. At least, their extinction may have occurred during the Rhaetian because of the aridification of the climate and/or competition with amniotes.

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