Impumlophantsi
| Impumlophantsi Temporal range: Permian (Guadalupian), ~ | |
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| Holotype skull | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Synapsida |
| Clade: | Therapsida |
| Suborder: | †Biarmosuchia |
| Clade: | †Burnetiamorpha |
| Genus: | †Impumlophantsi Matlhaga, Benoit & Rubidge, 2024 |
| Species: | †I. boonstrai |
| Binomial name | |
| †Impumlophantsi boonstrai Matlhaga, Benoit & Rubidge, 2024 | |
Impumlophantsi (meaning "low nose") is an extinct genus of biarmosuchian therapsids from the Permian Abrahamskraal Formation (Beaufort Group) of South Africa. The genus contains a single species, I. boonstrai, known from a partial skull and fragmentary postcrania.
Discovery and naming
The Impumlophantsi holotype specimen, SAM-PK-12118, was discovered in sediments of the Abrahamskraal Formation—a member of the Beaufort Group—on the Kruidfontein farm in Prince Albert, South Africa. The type locality represents the Diictodon-Styracocephalus Subzone of the Tapinocephalus Assemblage Zone. The specimen consists of the preorbital region of the skull and articulated lower jaw (SAM-PK12118a) and a partial vertebral column and pelvis (SAM-PK12118b).[1]
In 1965, Lieuwe D. Boonstra partially described the postcranial remains, interpreting them as belong to a galesuchid gorgonopsian. His preparation techniques damaged the specimen, preventing later researchers from thoroughly observing the material, although the associated cranium was left largely untouched. Subsequent preparation of the remainder of the specimen revealed numerous features distinct from gorgonopsians, more consistent with biarmosuchians.[2][1]
In 2024, Matlhaga, Benoit & Rubidge described Impumlophantsi boonstrai as a new genus and species of burnetiamorph biarmosuchians based on these fossil remains. The generic name, Impumlophantsi, means "low nose" in isiXhosa, referring to the notably inconspicuous nasal crest observed in the taxon. The specific name, boonstrai, honors L. D. Boonstra, the initial describer of the specimen and a prominent worker in the type locality.[1]
Classification
In their phylogenetic analyses, Matlhaga, Benoit & Rubidge (2024) recovered Impumlophantsi as a basal member of the biarmosuchian clade Burnetiamorpha. Their results are displayed in the cladogram below:[1]
References
- ^ a b c d Matlhaga, Fonda R.; Benoit, Julien; Rubidge, Bruce S. (2024). "A new middle Permian burnetiamorph (Therapsida: Biarmosuchia) from the South African Karoo filling a gap in the biarmosuchian record". Palaeontologia Africana. 58: 28–36. hdl:10539/40426.
- ^ Boonstra, Lieuwe Dirk (November 1965). "The girdles and limbs of the Gorgonopsia of the Tapinocephalus Zone". Annals of the South African Museum. 48 (13): 237–249.
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