''Brithopus'' is an extinct genus of
dinocephalian
therapsid
Therapsida is a major group of eupelycosaurian synapsids that includes mammals, their ancestors and relatives. Many of the traits today seen as unique to mammals had their origin within early therapsids, including limbs that were oriented more ...
s. It contains a single species, ''Brithopus priscus'', known from fragmentary remains found in the Copper
Sandstones near
Isheevo,
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
.
Description
''Brithopus'' was fairly large, reaching a length of 2.5–3 m (8–10 ft).
The skull was similar to ''
Titanophoneus
''Titanophoneus'' ("titanic murderer") is an extinct genus of carnivorous dinocephalian therapsid from the Middle Permian. It is classified within the family Anteosauridae. The type species is ''Titanophoneus potens''. Remains of ''Titanophoneus'' ...
'', but more massive and heavily built.
[Olson, E.C. (1962). " Late Permian terrestrial vertebrates, U.S.A. and U.S.S.R." ''Transactions of the American Philosophical Society'', New Series, 52: 1–224.]
Classification
''B. priscus'' was first named in 1838 and was traditionally classified in the
Anteosauria
Anteosaurs are a group of large, primitive carnivorous dinocephalian therapsids with large canines and incisors and short limbs, that are known from the Middle Permian of South Africa, Russia, China, and Brazil. Some grew very large, with skulls ...
, a group of carnivorous dinocephalians. ''Brithopus'' served as the basis for the family Brithopodidae, which once included many anteosaurian species. Because it is based on fragmentary material, ''Brithopus'' is regarded as a ''
nomen dubium
In binomial nomenclature, a ''nomen dubium'' (Latin for "doubtful name", plural ''nomina dubia'') is a scientific name that is of unknown or doubtful application.
Zoology
In case of a ''nomen dubium'' it may be impossible to determine whether a s ...
'' by some researchers. ''Brithopus'' was later considered a possible
estemmenosuchid
Estemmenosuchidae is an extinct family of large, very early herbivorous therapsids that flourished during the Guadalupian period. They are distinguished by horn-like structures, probably for display or agonistic behavior. Apart from the best know ...
,
[Kammerer, C. F. 2010. Systematics of the Anteosauria (Therapsida: Dinocephalia). ''Journal of Systematic Palaeontology'', 9, 261-304.] a type of herbivorous
tapinocephalian therapsid.
''
Dinosaurus
''Dinosaurus'' is an extinct genus of therapsid of controversial affinities. Its type and only species is ''Dinosaurus murchisonii''. It is only known from a partial snout from the Permian of Russia. Its taxonomic history is intertwined with seve ...
'' and ''
Eurosaurus'' have both been considered synonyms of ''Brithopus''.
[Battail, B., and Surkov, M. V. (2000). "Mammal-like reptiles from Russia." ''The Age of Dinosaurs in Russia and Mongolia'', 86-119.]
See also
*
List of therapsids
References
External links
Message to the Dinosaur Mailing List briefly detailing the history of the name
Tapinocephalians
Prehistoric therapsid genera
Monotypic prehistoric animal genera
Fossils of Russia
Fossil taxa described in 1838
{{Paleo-Therapsid-stub