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

Abstract

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