PBDB Taxon

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Gorgonopidae

Taxonomy

Gorgonopsidae was named by Lydekker (1890). It is not extant.

It was reranked as the unranked clade Gorgonopsidae by Gardiner (1982); it was corrected as Gorgonopidae by Ivakhnenko (2003), Kammerer (2016).

It was assigned to Testudinata by Gardiner (1982); to Gorgonopsia by Battail and Surkov (2000); to Gorgonopioidea by Ivakhnenko (2003); to Therapsida by Smiley et al. (2008); and to Gorgonopsia by Kuhn (1946), Haughton and Brink (1954), Olson (1974), Kemp (1982), Carroll (1988), Sigogneau-Russell (1989), Kammerer (2016).

Subtaxa

Arctognathus whaitsi, Arctosuchus, Asthenognathus, Delphaciognathus, Delphaciognathus paucidens, Genovum, Genovum broilii, Gorgonopsinae, Inostranceviinae, Lycosaurus, Lycosaurus tigrinus, Pravoslavleria, Rubidgeinae (syn. Sycosaurinae, Broomicephalinae), Rubidginae, Scylacopinae, Scymnognathus parvus

Synonyms

Arctognathus whaitsi was named by Haughton (1924). Its type specimen is SAM-PK-4337, a partial skull (Mold of an incomplete skull), and it is a mold. Its type locality is Houdkonstant (Cistecephalus Assemblage Zone), which is in a Wuchiapingian terrestrial mudstone in the Balfour Formation of South Africa.

It was considered a nomen dubium by Sigogneau-Russell (1989).
Delphaciognathus was named by Broom (1932).

It was considered a nomen dubium by Sigogneau-Russell (1989).
Genovum was named by Huene (1950). Its type is Genovum broilii.

It was considered a nomen dubium by Sigogneau-Russell (1989).

It was assigned to Gorgonopsia by Huene (1950).
Genovum broilii was named by Huene (1950). Its type specimen is IGPK 58, a partial skull (Fragment of snout and dentary), and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Kingori locality, Ruhuhu Basin, which is in a Wuchiapingian terrestrial horizon in the Usili Formation of Tanzania. It is the type species of Genovum.

It was considered a nomen dubium by Sigogneau-Russell (1989).
Scymnognathus parvus was named by Broom (1915). Its type specimen is BMNH 4139, a skull (Compressed and eroded skull with lower jaw), and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Kuilspoort, which is in a Wuchiapingian terrestrial horizon in South Africa.

It was considered a nomen dubium by Sigogneau-Russell (1989).
Arctosuchus was named by Broom (1911). It is not extant.

It was considered a nomen dubium by Sigogneau-Russell (1989).

It was assigned to Therocephalia by Broom (1913).
Lycosaurus tigrinus was named by Owen (1876). Its type specimen is BMNH R 1719, a partial skull (Compressed snout and dentary), and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Mildenhalls, which is in a Wuchiapingian terrestrial horizon in South Africa.

It was recombined as Arctosuchus tigrinus by Broom (1911); it was considered a nomen dubium by Sigogneau-Russell (1989).
Asthenognathus was named by Broom (1915). It is not extant.

It was replaced with Delphaciognathus by Broom (1932); it was considered a nomen dubium by Sigogneau-Russell (1989).

It was assigned to Gorgonopsia by Broom (1915).
Asthenognathus paucidens was named by Broom (1915). Its type specimen is AMNH 5562, a mandible, and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Wittekop, Beaufort West, which is in a Wuchiapingian terrestrial siliciclastic in South Africa.

It was recombined as Delphaciognathus paucidens by Broom (1932); it was considered a nomen dubium by Sigogneau-Russell (1989).

Synonymy list

Year	Name and author
1876	Lycosaurus tigrinus Owen
1890	Gorgonopsidae Lydekker
1911	Arctosuchus Broom
1911	Arctosuchus tigrinus Broom
1913	Arctosuchus Broom
1915	Scymnognathus parvus Broom
1915	Asthenognathus Broom p. 125 fig. 11
1915	Asthenognathus paucidens Broom p. 125 fig. 11
1924	Arctognathus whaitsi Haughton
1932	Delphaciognathus Broom
1932	Delphaciognathus paucidens Broom
1946	Gorgonopsidae Kuhn p. 57
1950	Genovum Huene
1950	Genovum broilii Huene
1954	Gorgonopsidae Haughton and Brink p. 6
1974	Gorgonopsidae Olson p. 28
1982	Gorgonopsidae Gardiner p. 228
1982	Gorgonopsidae Kemp p. 348
1988	Gorgonopsidae Carroll
1989	Gorgonopsidae Sigogneau-Russell
2000	Gorgonopsidae Battail and Surkov
2003	Gorgonopidae Ivakhnenko
2008	Gorgonopsidae Smiley et al. p. 543
2016	Gorgonopidae Kammerer

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Rank	Name	Author
kingdom	Animalia	()
—	Bilateria
—	Eubilateria	Ax 1987
—	Deuterostomia
phylum	Chordata	Haeckel 1874
subphylum	Vertebrata
superclass	Gnathostomata
—	Eugnathostomata
—	Teleostomi	(Bonaparte 1836)
subclass	Sarcopterygii	()
subclass	Dipnotetrapodomorpha	(Nelson 2006)
subclass	Tetrapodomorpha	()

Rank	Name	Author
—	Tetrapoda
—	Reptiliomorpha
—	Anthracosauria
subclass	Amphibiosauria	Kuhn 1967
—	Cotylosauria	()
—	Amniota
subclass	Synapsida
—	Therapsida	()
suborder	Gorgonopsia
family	Gorgonopidae	(Lydekker 1890)
family	Gorgonopidae	(Lydekker 1890)

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Fm. †Gorgonopidae Lydekker 1890

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Subfm. †Gorgonopsinae Sigogneau-Russell 1970

G. †Aelurosaurus Owen 1881

†Aelurosaurus angusticeps Broom

†Aelurosaurus brevirostris Broom 1948

†Aelurosaurus felinus Owen 1881

Invalid names: Aelurosauroides watsoni Boonstra 1934 [synonym], Aelurosaurus striatidens Broom 1912 [synonym], Aelurosaurus tenuirostris Broom 1911 [synonym]

†Aelurosaurus polyodon Broom 1935

†Aelurosaurus watermeyeri Broom 1940

†Aelurosaurus whaitsi Broom 1911

Invalid names: Aelurosaurus breviceps Broom 1930 [synonym]

†Aelurosaurus wilmanae Broom 1940

Invalid names: Aelurosauroides Boonstra 1934 [synonym], Scylacocephalus Broom 1940 [synonym]

G. †Aloposaurus Broom 1910

†Aloposaurus gracilis Broom 1910

†Aloposaurus tenuis Brink and Kitching 1953

Invalid names: Cynarioides tenuis Broom 1925 [synonym]

Invalid names: Aloposauroides Brink and Kitching 1953 [synonym], Cynarioides Broom 1925 [synonym], Cyniscops broomianus Huene 1950 [nomen dubium]

G. †Arctognathus Broom 1911

†Arctognathus breviceps Boonstra 1934

†Arctognathus cookei Broom 1948

†Arctognathus curvimola Owen 1876

Invalid names: Lycaenodontoides bathyrhinus Haughton 1929 [synonym], Lycaenops pricei Broom and Robinson 1948 [synonym]

†Arctognathus nasuta Huene 1950

Invalid names: Lycaenodontoides Haughton 1929 [synonym]

G. †Arctops Watson 1914

†Arctops kitchingi Sigogneau 1970

†Arctops watsoni Brink and Kitching 1953

†Arctops willistoni Watson 1914

G. †Broomisaurus Joleaud 1920

Invalid names: Scymnorhinus Broom 1913 [replaced]

G. †Cerdorhinus Broom 1936

†Cerdorhinus parvidens Broom 1936

†Cerdorhinus rubidgei Broom 1937

G. †Cyonosaurus Olson 1937

†Cyonosaurus kitchingi Broom 1948

Invalid names: Alopecorhynchus rubidgei Brink and Kitching 1953 [synonym]

†Cyonosaurus longiceps Olson 1937

Invalid names: Cyniscops longiceps Broom 1941 [synonym]

†Cyonosaurus rubidgei Broom 1947

Invalid names: Alopecorhynchus Brink and Kitching 1953 [synonym], Cyniscopoides broomi Brink and Kitching 1953 [nomen dubium], Nanogorgon Broom and Robinson 1948 [synonym], Nanogorgon gracilis Broom and Robinson 1948 [nomen dubium]

G. †Gorgonops Owen 1876

†Gorgonops dixeyi Haughton 1926

†Gorgonops kaiseri Broili and Schroder 1934

†Gorgonops longifrons Haughton 1915

†Gorgonops torvus Owen 1876

†Gorgonops whaitsi Broom 1912

Invalid names: Chiwetasaurus Haughton 1926 [synonym], Leptotracheliscops Kuhn 1965 [synonym], Leptotrachelus Watson 1921 [synonym], Pachyrhinos Broili and Schroder 1934 [synonym], Scymnognathus Broom 1912 [synonym]

G. †Lycaenops Broom 1925

†Lycaenops angusticeps Broom 1913

Invalid names: Scymnognathus major Olson and Broom 1937 [synonym], Scymnognathus minor Broom 1913 [synonym]

†Lycaenops minor Brink and Kitching 1953

Invalid names: Aelurognathus microdon Boonstra 1934 [synonym]

†Lycaenops ornatus Broom 1925

†Lycaenops quadrata Haughton 1926

†Lycaenops sollasi Broili and Schröder 1935

Invalid names: Scymnognathus holmesi Broom 1948 [synonym]

†Lycaenops tenuirostris Boonstra 1953

Invalid names: Tangagorgon Boonstra 1953 [synonym]

G. †Paragalerhinus Sigogneau 1970

†Paragalerhinus rubidgei Broom 1936

G. †Pravoslavlevia Vjushkov 1953

†Pravoslavlevia parva Pravoslavlev 1927

G. †Scylacops Broom 1913

†Scylacops bigendens Brink and Kitching 1953

†Scylacops capensis Broom 1913

Invalid names: Sycocephalus Brink and Kitching 1953 [synonym]

G. †Lycosaurus Owen 1876

†Lycosaurus pardalis Owen 1876

G. †Pravoslavleria

Subfm. †Rubidgeinae Broom 1938

G. †Aelurognathus Haughton 1924

†Aelurognathus tigriceps Broom and Haughton 1913

Invalid names: Gorgonorhinus luckhoffi Broom 1937 [synonym], Gorgonorhinus minor Broom 1948 [synonym], Leontocephalus cadlei Broom 1940 [synonym], Lycaenops alticeps Brink and Kitching 1953 [synonym], Prorubidgea brinki Manten 1959 [synonym], Prorubidgea maccabei Broom 1940 [synonym], Scymnognathus serratidens Haughton 1915 [synonym], Sycosaurus brodiei Broom 1941 [synonym], Tigricephalus kingwilli Broom 1948 [synonym]

Invalid names: Gorgonorhinus Broom 1937 [synonym], Leontocephalus Broom 1940 [synonym], Prorubidgea Broom 1940 [synonym], Tigricephalus Broom 1948 [synonym]

G. †Leogorgon Ivakhnenko 2003

†Leogorgon klimovensis Ivakhnenko 2003

Tr. †Rubidgeini Broom 1938

G. †Clelandina Broom 1948

†Clelandina rubidgei Broom 1948

Invalid names: Clelandina major Broom 1948 [synonym], Dracocephalus scheepersi Brink and Kitching 1953 [synonym], Tigrisaurus pricei Broom and George 1950 [synonym]

Invalid names: Dracocephalus Brink and Kitching 1953 [synonym], Tigrisaurus Broom and George 1950 [synonym]

G. †Dinogorgon Broom 1936

†Dinogorgon rubidgei Broom 1936

Invalid names: Dinogorgon oudebergensis Brink and Kitching 1953 [synonym], Dinogorgon quinquemolaris Huene 1950 [synonym], Prorubidgea robusta Brink and Kitching 1953 [synonym]

G. †Leontosaurus Broom and George 1950

†Leontosaurus vanderhorsti Broom and George 1950

Invalid names: Rubidgea platyrhina Brink and Kitching 1953 [synonym]

G. †Rubidgea Broom 1938

†Rubidgea atrox Broom 1938

Invalid names: Broomicephalus laticeps Brink and Kitching 1953 [synonym], Gorgonognathus maximus Huene 1950 [synonym], Rubidgea kitchingi Broom 1938 [synonym], Rubidgea laticeps Broom 1940 [synonym], Rubidgea majora Brink and Kitching 1953 [synonym]

Invalid names: Broomicephalus Brink and Kitching 1953 [synonym], Titanogorgon Maisch 2002 [synonym]

G. †Ruhuhucerberus Maisch 2002

†Ruhuhucerberus haughtoni Huene 1950

Invalid names: Ruhuhucerberus terror Maisch 2002 [synonym]

G. †Smilesaurus Broom 1948

†Smilesaurus ferox Broom 1948

Invalid names: Pardocephalus wallacei Broom 1948 [synonym], Smilesaurus maccabei Broom 1948 [synonym]

Invalid names: Pardocephalus Broom 1948 [synonym]

G. †Sycosaurus Haughton 1924

†Sycosaurus laticeps Haughton 1924

†Sycosaurus nowaki Broili and Schröder 1936

Invalid names: Leontocephalus intactus Kemp 1969 [synonym], Lycaenops kingoriensis Huene 1950 [synonym]

Invalid names: Cephalicustriodus Parrington 1974 [synonym], Tetraodon Broili and Schröder 1936 [synonym], Tetraodontonius Kuhn 1961 [synonym]

Invalid names: Aelurognathus nyasaensis Haughton 1926 [nomen dubium], Broomicephalinae Tatarinov 1974 [synonym], Sycosaurinae Tatarinov 1974 [synonym]

Subfm. †Scylacopinae Watson and Romer 1956

G. †Sauroctonus Bystrow 1955

†Sauroctonus parringtoni Huene 1950

†Sauroctonus progressus Hartmann-Weinberg 1938

G. †Suchogorgon Tatarinov 2000

†Suchogorgon golubevi Tatarinov 2000

Invalid names: Arctognathus whaitsi Haughton 1924 [nomen dubium], Arctosuchus Broom 1911 [nomen dubium], Asthenognathus Broom 1915 [nomen dubium], Delphaciognathus Broom 1932 [nomen dubium], Delphaciognathus paucidens Broom 1915 [nomen dubium], Genovum Huene 1950 [nomen dubium], Genovum broilii Huene 1950 [nomen dubium], Inostranceviinae Sigogneau-Russell 1989 [empty], Lycosaurus tigrinus Owen 1876 [nomen dubium], Rubidginae Sigogneau 1970 [empty], Scymnognathus parvus Broom 1915 [nomen dubium]

Diagnosis

No diagnoses are available

Measurements

No measurements are available

Composition:

phosphaticsubp

Environment:

terrestrialuc

Locomotion:

actively mobilep

Diet:

carnivoresubo

Created:

2009-01-03 20:34:07

Modified:

2009-01-03 22:34:07

Source: subo = suborder, subp = subphylum, p = phylum, uc = unranked clade

References: Kiessling 2004, Benton 1983, Carroll 1988

Age range: base of the Capitanian to the top of the Changhsingian or 264.28000 to 251.90200 Ma

Collections (118 total)

Time interval	Ma	Country or state	Original ID and collection number
Guadalupian	274.4 - 259.51	Zambia (Southern)	Gorgonopsidae indet. (171619)
Guadalupian	274.4 - 259.51	South Africa (Western Cape)	Aelurosaurus felinus, Aelurosaurus whaitsi, Aelurosauroides watsoni (177007)
Capitanian	264.28 - 259.51	South Africa (Northern Cape)	Gorgonops torvus (176246)
Capitanian	264.28 - 259.51	South Africa (Western Cape)	Lycosaurus sp. (198700) Pachyrhinos kaiseri (31777)
Late/Upper Severodvinian	264.28 - 259.51	Russian Federation (Vologda)	Suchogorgon golubevi (187752 187928)
Late/Upper Severodvinian	264.28 - 259.51	Russian Federation (Tatarstan)	Arctognathus progressus (80712)
Late/Upper Severodvinian - Vyatkian	264.28 - 256.8	Russian Federation (Vologda)	Leogorgon klimovensis (187938)
Late/Upper Severodvinian - Vyatkian	264.28 - 256.8	Russian Federation (Arkhangelsk)	Inostrancevia parva (28065)
Late/Upper Severodvinian - Vyatkian	264.28 - 256.8	Russian Federation (Orenburg)	Leogorgon klimovensis (93030)
Capitanian - Wuchiapingian	264.28 - 254.14	South Africa (Western Cape)	Scymnognathus whaitsi, Gorgonops torvus, Aelurosaurus whaitsi, Aelurosaurus breviceps (176922)
Wuchiapingian	259.51 - 254.14	Malawi (Northern Region)	Aelurognathus nyasaensis, Dixeya quadrata, Chiwetasaurus dixeyi (176291) Galesuchus sp. (176292)
Wuchiapingian	259.51 - 254.14	South Africa (Western Cape)	Aelurognathus minor (178734) Aelurosaurus sp., Galerhinus polyodon, Aelurosaurus brevirostris (22661) Aloposaurus gracilis, Aelurosaurus striatidens, Aelurognathus sollasi, Aelurosaurus tenuirostris, Scymnognathus parvus (175565) Asthenognathus paucidens (178879) Cyonosaurus longiceps (178742 178744) Gorgonops torvus (176923) Gorgonops torvus, Cyonosaurus longiceps (178805) Gorgonops torvus, Gorgonops whaitsi (178803) Gorgonops whaitsi (178806) Leptotrachelus eupachygnathus (178830) Lycaenops minor (178867) Lycaenops ornatus (86284 178865) Scylacocephalus watermeyeri (174736) Scylacops capensis (181803) Scymnognathus holmesi (175331) Scymnognathus major (178866) Scymnognathus tigriceps, Aelurognathus tigriceps, Scymnognathus serratidens, Gorgonognathus longifrons, Scylacops capensis, Arctops willistoni (171377)
Wuchiapingian	259.51 - 254.14	Zambia	Aelurognathus sp., Scylacops sp. (184599) Aelurognathus sp., Scylacops sp., Aelurognathus tigriceps, Aelurognathus quadrata (184600) Dinogorgon sp., Prorubidgea sp. (184662) Dinogorgon sp., Prorubidgea sp., Aelurognathus quadrata (184660)
Wuchiapingian	259.51 - 254.14	South Africa (Eastern Cape)	Aelurosaurus sp., Arctops sp., Aelurognathus tigriceps, Clelandina major, Smilesaurus ferox (80826) Aloposaurus gracilis (176501) Arctognathus whaitsi (176339) Arctops willistoni (178694) Clelandina major (178274) Clelandina rubidgei (178113) Cyniscops cookei (176310) Cyniscops longiceps (178743) Cyonosaurus longiceps (174622) Dinogorgon rubidgei, Pardocephalus wallacei (176504) Dinogorgon rubidgei, Scylacops capensis (174717) Galerhynchus rubidgei, Cyniscops kitchingi (178740) Gorgonops torvus, Lycosaurus tigrinus (178105) Lycaenodontoides bathyrhinus (171384) Lycosaurus pardalis (177606) Prorubidgea maccabei (144272) Rubidgea atrox (176311) Rubidgea atrox, Sycocephalus bigendens (171376) Rubidgea laticeps, Alopecorhynchus rubidgei (176308) Smilesaurus maccabei (176919)
Wuchiapingian	259.51 - 254.14	South Africa (Graaff-Reinet)	Lycaenops ornatus (171378)
Wuchiapingian	259.51 - 254.14	Russian Federation (Vologda)	Gorgonopidae indet. (104754)
Wuchiapingian	259.51 - 254.14	Tanzania (Ruvuma)	Aelurognathus haughtoni, Dinogorgon quinquemolaris, Gorgonognathus maximus, Tetraodon nowaki, Lycaenops kingoriensis, Dixeya nasuta, Genovum broilii, Cyniscops broomianus, Galerhinus rubidgei, Dixeya quadrata (181520) Scymnognathus parringtoni (190735) Sycosaurus nowacki (190330) Sycosaurus nowacki, Dinogorgon rubidgei (135698) Sycosaurus nowacki, Dinogorgon rubidgei, Ruhuhucerberus haughtoni, Ruhuhucerberus terror (180461) Tangagorgon tenuirostris (178128)
Wuchiapingian	259.51 - 254.14	South Africa (Northern Cape)	Arctognathoides breviceps, Arctops ferox, Lycaenops ornatus (178523) Gorgonopsidae indet., Gorgonops torvus, Cynarioides tenuis, Lycaenops ornatus (174666) Leontosaurus vanderhorsti, Aelurognathus microdon (178869) Lycaenoides angusticeps (178478)
Lopingian	259.51 - 251.902	Zambia (Southern)	Gorgonops sp. (234484)
Lopingian	259.51 - 251.902	Niger	Rubidginae indet. (223513 223928)
Lopingian	259.51 - 251.902	Zambia (Muchinga)	Aelurognathus tigriceps (234510)
Lopingian	259.51 - 251.902	South Africa (Aberdeen Plain)	Aelurognathus sp. (223844)
Wuchiapingian - Changhsingian	259.51 - 251.902	South Africa (Northern Cape)	Aelurognathus tigriceps (178275) Broomicephalus laticeps (178871)
Wuchiapingian - Changhsingian	259.51 - 251.902	South Africa (Eastern Cape)	Aelurognathus minor (176336) Aelurognathus tigriceps (178272) Aelurognathus tigriceps, Dinogorgon rubidgei (178891) Aelurosauroides wilmanae, Aloposaurus tenuis, Scymnognathus minor (80219) Clelandina rubidgei, Cyniscopoides broomi (174735) Cyniscops rubidgei, Galerhinus rubidgei (80226) Cyonosaurus kitchingi (180724) Cyonosaurus kitchingi, Scymnognathus angusticeps (176312) Cyonosaurus longiceps (177601) Cyonosaurus longiceps, Cyonosaurus kitchingi (80216) Dinogorgon oudebergensis, Cyonosaurus kitchingi (174663) Dinogorgon rubidgei (178889) Gorgonorhinus luckhoffi, Gorgonorhinus minor, Dracocephalus scheepersi, Sycosaurus laticeps, Cyonosaurus longiceps (177563) Leontocephalus cadlei (80220) Leontosaurus vanderhorsti (89863) Lycaenops ornatus (86258) Lycosaurus curvimola (178500) Prorubidgea maccabei, Aloposauroides tenuis (176917) Prorubidgea robusta (178872) Rubidgea atrox (178900 178903) Rubidgea kitchingi, Broomisaurus rubidgei (178864) Rubidgea sp., Lycaenops pricei (174741) Sycosaurus brodiei (80174)
Wuchiapingian - Changhsingian	259.51 - 251.902	South Africa (Western Cape)	Aelurognathus sp. (178276) Aelurognathus tigriceps (178260 178268 178277 178278) Arctops watsoni (178695) Cyonosaurus rubidgei (89859) Leontosaurus vanderhorsti, Rubidgea platyrhina, Sycosaurus vanderhorsti, Aloposauroides tenuis, Cyonosaurus kitchingi (80176) Lycaenops alticeps, Cyonosaurus longiceps, Rubidgea platyrhina (174623) Lycaenops minor (178868) Nanogorgon gracilis (178802) Prorubidgea brinki (80178) Rubidgea majora (178875) Tigricephalus kingwilli (178273) Tigrisaurus pricei (178477)
Changhsingian	254.14 - 251.902	South Africa (Western Cape)	Cyonosaurus kitchingi (80223)
Changhsingian	254.14 - 251.902	Niger (Agadez)	Rubidginae indet. (68054 84824)