A new therocephalian (Gorynychus masyutinae gen. et sp. nov.) from the Permian Kotelnich locality, Kirov Region, Russia

A new therocephalian taxon (Gorynychus masyutinae gen. et sp. nov.) is described based on a nearly complete skull and partial postcranium from the Permian Kotelnich locality of Russia. Gorynychus displays an unusual mixture of primitive (“pristerosaurian”) and derived (eutherocephalian) characters. Primitive features of Gorynychus include extensive dentition on the palatal boss and transverse process of the pterygoid, paired vomers, and a prominent dentary angle; derived features include the absence of the postfrontal. Gorynychus can be distinguished from all other therocephalians by its autapomorphic dental morphology, with roughly denticulated incisors and postcanines. Phylogenetic analysis recovers Gorynychus as a non-lycosuchid, non-scylacosaurid therocephalian situated as sister-taxon to Eutherocephalia. The identification of Gorynychus as the largest predator from Kotelnich indicates that therocephalians acted as apex predators in middle–late Permian transition ecosystems in Russia, corroborating a pattern observed in South African faunas. However, other aspects of the Kotelnich fauna, and Permian Russian tetrapod faunas in general, differ markedly from those of South Africa and suggest that Karoo faunas are not necessarily representative of global patterns.

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Antibiotic sensitivity of bacteria isolated from the oral cavities of live white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) in South African waters

South African Journal of Science ◽

10.17159/sajs.2019/5972 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 115 (11/12) ◽

Author(s):

Enrico Gennari ◽

Alison A. Kock ◽

Malcolm J. Smale ◽

Alison Towner ◽

Nasreen Khan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Antibiotic Resistance ◽

South African ◽

Antibiotic Sensitivity ◽

White Shark ◽

Shark Species ◽

Apex Predators ◽

Carcharodon Carcharias ◽

Bacterial Microbiota ◽

Carbapenem Antibiotic

The white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) is responsible for 49% of shark-related injuries in South Africa, yet no information currently exists on the composition or antibiotic resistance of bacteria hosted by these apex predators in South African waters. This study aimed to address this gap by sampling the bacteria present in the oral cavities of 28 live C. carcharias along South Africa’s southern coastline. The antibiotic resistance of the range of microbiota was also assessed using antibiotic disc diffusion tests. A total of 51 strains from at least 20 species of bacteria were isolated from the oral cavities of C. carcharias. Of these strains, the most common bacteria present were Serratia spp., Proteus vulgaris and Vibrio alginolyticus. The overall antibiotic resistance was relatively higher in this study than that reported for bacterial microbiota sampled from other shark species. Results indicate that the combination therapy of imipenem (carbapenem antibiotic) and vancomycin (glycopeptide antibiotic) might be the most parsimonious option to effectively treat infections resulting from white shark bites, particularly in South Africa. It is hoped that, in addition to assisting medical professionals to treat shark bite victims, these findings enhance the understanding of the microbial communities present in large coastal predators and their surrounding environments.

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IV.—The Morphology and Relationships of a Complete Therocephalian Skeleton from the Cistecephalus Zone of South Africa

Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Section B Biology ◽

10.1017/s0080455x00014727 ◽

1956 ◽

Vol 66 (1) ◽

pp. 59-93 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

John Attridge

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

South African ◽

Systematic Study ◽

Fast Moving ◽

New Genus ◽

University Of California ◽

Late Permian ◽

Respiratory Mechanism ◽

The University ◽

Limb Structure

SynopsisA description is given of a new genus of mammal-like reptile, Mirotenthes, of which a remarkably complete and well-preserved skeleton was collected in 1936 by Professor Camp of the University of California, from the late Permian deposits of the South African Karroo.Unlike the majority of Permian mammal-like reptiles, Mirotenthes was an agile form of small dimensions. Many of the skeletal characters exhibit a significant approach towards the mammalian threshold. The limb structure is very advanced and the digital formula is mammalian. The differentiation of ribs to form a definite rib-cage of mammalian type is particularly noteworthy and may indicate the presence in this genus of a mammalian respiratory mechanism.The systematic study of this complete skeleton does much to bridge the gap between the primitive basal groups of mammal-like reptiles and the advanced Triassic groups from which the mammals derive. It has been known for many years that small, fast-moving carnivorous forms were present in the late Permian fauna, but the evidence has been fragmentary. The complete skeleton described in this paper throws new light on these hitherto poorly known genera.

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Osteology of the Permian temnospondyl amphibian <i>Glanochthon lellbachae</i> and its relationships

Fossil Record ◽

10.5194/fr-24-49-2021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 49-64

Author(s):

Rainer R. Schoch

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Lateral Margin ◽

Sister Taxon ◽

Time Interval ◽

New Taxon ◽

Early Permian ◽

Apex Predators ◽

Trophic Guild ◽

Long Time ◽

Registration Date

Abstract. The early Permian Meisenheim Formation of the Saar–Nahe Basin (Germany) is famous for its richness in vertebrate fossils, among which the temnospondyls were present with microvores and fish-eating apex predators. The latter trophic guild was occupied exclusively by the genus Sclerocephalus in that basin within a long time interval up to M8, whereas in M9, a new taxon, Glanochthon lellbachae, appeared. This taxon is defined by (1) a preorbital region 1.8–2.0 times as long as the postorbital skull table, (2) dermal ornament with tall radial ridges, (3) a prefrontal anteriorly wider with straight lateral margin, (4) a squamosal posteriorly only half as wide as the quadratojugal, (5) phalanges of manus and pes long and gracile, (6) carpals unossified in adults, and (7) tail substantially longer than skull and trunk combined. Phylogenetic analysis finds that G. lellbachae forms the basal sister taxon of the stratigraphically younger G. angusta and G. latirostre and that this clade nests within the paraphyletic taxon Sclerocephalus, with S. nobilis forming the sister taxon of the genus Glanochthon (urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:3038F794-17B9-4FCA-B241-CCC3F4423651; registration date: 15 March 2021).

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Molecular Characterization of the 16S rRNA Gene ofHelicobacter fennelliaeIsolated from Stools and Blood Cultures from Paediatric Patients in South Africa

Journal of Pathogens ◽

10.4061/2011/217376 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2011 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Heidi E. M. Smuts ◽

Albert Joseph Lastovica

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

16S Rrna ◽

South African ◽

Rpob Gene ◽

Australian Isolate ◽

23S Rrna ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Separate Branch ◽

Primary Stem

Forty strains ofH. fennelliaecollected from paediatric blood and stool samples over an 18 year period at a children's hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, were amplified by PCR of the 16S rRNA. Two distinct genotypes ofH. fennelliaewere identified based on the phylogenetic analysis. This was confirmed by sequencing a portion of the beta subunit of the RNA polymerase (rpoB) gene. All isolates from South Africa clustered with a proposed novelHelicobacterstrain (accession number AF237612) isolated in Australia, while threeH. fennelliaetype strains from the northern hemisphere, NCTC 11612, LMG 7546 and CCUG 18820, formed a separate branch. A large (355bp) highly conserved intervening sequence (IVS) in the 16S rRNA was found in all isolates. Predicted secondary structures of the IVS from the 16S rRNA and 23S rRNA were characterised by a primary stem structure formed by base pairing of the 3′and 5′ends and internal loops and stems. This phylogenetic analysis is the largest undertaken ofH. fennelliae. The South AfricanH. fennelliaeisolates are closely related to an Australian isolate previously reported to be a possible novel species of Helicobacter. This study suggests that the latter is strain ofH. fennelliae.

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The systematic position of the enigmatic thyreophoran dinosaurParanthodon africanus, and the use of basal exemplifiers in phylogenetic analysis

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.4529 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. e4529 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Thomas J. Raven ◽

Susannah C.R. Maidment

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Lower Cretaceous ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Systematic Position ◽

Type Material ◽

Sister Taxon ◽

Phylogenetic Position ◽

Taxonomic Assignment

The first African dinosaur to be discovered,Paranthodon africanuswas found in 1845 in the Lower Cretaceous of South Africa. Taxonomically assigned to numerous groups since discovery, in 1981 it was described as a stegosaur, a group of armoured ornithischian dinosaurs characterised by bizarre plates and spines extending from the neck to the tail. This assignment has been subsequently accepted. The type material consists of a premaxilla, maxilla, a nasal, and a vertebra, and contains no synapomorphies of Stegosauria. Several features of the maxilla and dentition are reminiscent of Ankylosauria, the sister-taxon to Stegosauria, and the premaxilla appears superficially similar to that of some ornithopods. The vertebral material has never been described, and since the last description of the specimen, there have been numerous discoveries of thyreophoran material potentially pertinent to establishing the taxonomic assignment of the specimen. An investigation of the taxonomic and systematic position ofParanthodonis therefore warranted. This study provides a detailed re-description, including the first description of the vertebra. Numerous phylogenetic analyses demonstrate that the systematic position ofParanthodonis highly labile and subject to change depending on which exemplifier for the clade Stegosauria is used. The results indicate that the use of a basal exemplifier may not result in the correct phylogenetic position of a taxon being recovered if the taxon displays character states more derived than those of the basal exemplifier, and we recommend the use, minimally, of one basal and one derived exemplifier per clade.Paranthodonis most robustly recovered as a stegosaur in our analyses, meaning it is one of the youngest and southernmost stegosaurs.

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The tetrapod fauna of the upper Permian Naobaogou Formation of China: 1. Shiguaignathus wangi gen. et sp. nov., the first akidnognathid therocephalian from China

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.4150 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. e4150 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Jun Liu ◽

Fernando Abdala

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

South African ◽

Fossil Record ◽

Major Group ◽

Upper Permian ◽

The South ◽

Karoo Basin ◽

Basal Position

The Permian from China has a well-known terrestrial record where approximately 30 tetrapod taxa, including several therapsids, have been described. However, the record of therocephalians in China has remained elusive. Shiguaignathus wangi gen. et sp. nov., discovered in the Member III of the Naobaogou Formation, Nei Mongol, China, is here described. This is the first therocephalian recovered from this fauna and only the second from the Permian of China. It is represented by a well-preserved robust snout of a medium-sized animal. This is the first akidnognathid reported from the Chinese Permian and only the second genus from Laurasia as one genus is known from Russia whereas the remaining members of the group are from the South African Karoo Basin. A phylogenetic analysis of therocephalians supports a basal position of S. wangi within Akidnognathidae, followed by the Russian Annatherapsidus. Akidnognathidae is the latest major group of therocephalian appearing in the fossil record, and one of the few that does not have species from South Africa representing its most basal members.

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Systematics of the Rubidgeinae (Therapsida: Gorgonopsia)

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.1608 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. e1608 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Christian F. Kammerer

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Body Size ◽

Endemic Species ◽

Large Body ◽

Strong Support ◽

Late Permian ◽

Large Body Size ◽

Karoo Basin ◽

Assemblage Zone

The subfamily Rubidgeinae, containing the largest known African gorgonopsians, is thoroughly revised. Rubidgeinae is diagnosed by the absence of a blade-like parasphenoid rostrum and reduction or absence of the preparietal. Seven rubidgeine species from the Karoo Basin of South Africa are recognized as valid:Aelurognathus tigriceps,Clelandina rubidgei,Dinogorgon rubidgei,Leontosaurus vanderhorsti,Rubidgea atrox,Smilesaurus ferox, andSycosaurus laticeps. Rubidgeines are also present in other African basins:A. tigricepsandS. laticepsoccur in the Upper Madumabisa Mudstone Formation of Zambia, andD. rubidgei,R. atrox, and the endemic speciesRuhuhucerberus haughtonicomb. nov. andSycosaurus nowakicomb. nov. occur in the Usili Formation of Tanzania.Aelurognathus nyasaensisfrom the Chiweta Beds of Malawi also represents a rubidgeine, but of uncertain generic referral pending further preparation. No rubidgeine material is known outside of Africa: the purported Russian rubidgeineLeogorgon klimovensisis not clearly referable to this group and may not be diagnosable. Phylogenetic analysis of rubidgeines reveals strong support for a clade (Rubidgeini) of advanced rubidgeines includingClelandina,Dinogorgon,Leontosaurus, andRubidgea. Support forSmilesaurusas a rubidgeine is weak; it may, as previous authors have suggested, represent an independent evolution of large body size from anArctops-like ancestor. Temporally, rubidgeines are restricted to the Late Permian, first appearing in theTropidostomaAssemblage Zone and reaching highest diversity in theCistecephalusandDaptocephalusassemblage zones of the Beaufort Group.

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The systematic position of the enigmatic thyreophoran dinosaur Paranthodon africanus, and the use of basal exemplifiers in phylogenetic analysis

10.31233/osf.io/eaz4t ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Tom Raven ◽

Susannah C. R. Maidment

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Lower Cretaceous ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Systematic Position ◽

Type Material ◽

Sister Taxon ◽

Phylogenetic Position ◽

Taxonomic Assignment

The first African dinosaur to be discovered, Paranthodon africanus was found in 1845 in the Lower Cretaceous of South Africa. Taxonomically assigned to numerous groups since discovery, in 1981 it was described as a stegosaur, a group of armoured ornithischian dinosaurs characterised by bizarre plates and spines extending from the neck to the tail. This assignment has been subsequently accepted. The type material consists of a premaxilla, maxilla, a nasal, and a vertebra, and contains no synapomorphies of Stegosauria. Several features of the maxilla and dentition are reminiscent of Ankylosauria, the sister-taxon to Stegosauria, and the premaxilla appears superficially similar to that of some ornithopods. The vertebral material has never been described, and since the last description of the specimen, there have been numerous discoveries of thyreophoran material potentially pertinent to establishing the taxonomic assignment of the specimen. An investigation of the taxonomic and systematic position of Paranthodon is therefore warranted. This study provides a detailed re-description, including the first description of the vertebra. Numerous phylogenetic analyses demonstrate that the systematic position of Paranthodon is highly labile and subject to change depending on which exemplifier for the clade Stegosauria is used. The results indicate that the use of a basal exemplifier may not result in the correct phylogenetic position of a taxon being recovered if the taxon displays character states more derived than those of the basal exemplifier, and we recommend the use, minimally, of one basal and one derived exemplifier per clade. Paranthodon is most robustly recovered as a stegosaur in our analyses, meaning it is one of the youngest and southernmost stegosaurs.

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Redescription of <i>Digalodon rubidgei</i>, an emydopoid dicynodont (Therapsida, Anomodontia) from the Late Permian of South Africa

Fossil Record ◽

10.5194/fr-18-43-2015 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 43-55 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

C. F. Kammerer ◽

K. D. Angielczyk ◽

J. Fröbisch

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Time Span ◽

Central Portion ◽

Sister Taxon ◽

Recent Analysis ◽

Dorsal Margin ◽

Sexually Dimorphic ◽

Limited Time ◽

Late Permian ◽

Karoo Basin

Abstract. The Late Permian dicynodont Digalodon rubidgei Broom and Robinson, 1948, is redescribed based on reanalysis of the holotype and newly recognized referable specimens. Digalodon can be diagnosed by the presence of a long "beak" sharply demarcated from the caniniform process; an extremely tall zygomatic ramus of the squamosal, with a thickened, "folded-over" dorsal margin; raised parietal "lips" along the lateral edges of the pineal foramen; and a broad posterolateral expansion of the parietal, excluding the postorbital from the back of the skull roof. Inclusion of Digalodon in a recent analysis of anomodont phylogeny recovers it as a kistecephalian emydopoid, specifically as the sister taxon to the clade containing the remaining kistecephalians. Four definite specimens of Digalodon are known, but several additional specimens lacking tusks, the swollen pineal "lips", and a thickened zygoma may represent sexually dimorphic females or juveniles. Specimens of Digalodon are restricted to the central portion of the Karoo Basin, in the area around Graaff-Reinet, and are part of a characteristic fauna probably representing a limited time span.

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Genotypic Variation in Trichomonas vaginalis Detected in South African Pregnant Women

Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology ◽

10.1155/2020/1687427 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Rennisha Chetty ◽

Nonkululeko Mabaso ◽

Nathlee Abbai

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Amino Acid ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

South African ◽

Amino Acid Substitution ◽

Trichomonas Vaginalis ◽

Single Amino Acid Substitution ◽

Single Amino Acid ◽

Study Population

Background. Trichomonas vaginalis is the causative agent of trichomoniasis. The genetic characterisation of T. vaginalis isolates reveals significant genetic diversity in this organism. Data on the prevalence of different genotypes of T. vaginalis in South African populations is lacking. This study investigated the diversity of T. vaginalis in a pregnant population in South Africa. Methods. In this study, 362 pregnant women from the King Edward VIII Hospital in Durban, South Africa, provided vaginal swabs to be tested for the presence of T. vaginalis. T. vaginalis was detected using the TaqMan assay using commercially available primers and probes specific for this protozoan (Pr04646256_s1). The actin gene from T. vaginalis was amplified with gene-specific primers. The actin amplicons were digested with HindII, MseI, and RsaI, and the banding patterns were compared across the three digests for assignment of genotypes. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted using MEGA. Results. The prevalence of T. vaginalis in the study population was 12.9% (47/362). Genotype G was the most frequent genotype in our study population. Genotypes H and I were detected in one sample each. According to the multiple sequence alignments and phylogenetic analysis, a level of diversity was observed across and within genotypes. Four different single-nucleotide changes in the actin gene were detected. Sample TV358 (H genotype) contained a single amino acid substitution from glutamine to lysine. Sample TV184 (G genotype) contained a single amino acid substitution from glutamic acid to arginine. Sample TV357 (G genotype) contained two amino acid substitutions, arginine to leucine and glycine to aspartic acid. Conclusion. Three different genotypes were observed in the pregnant population. Diversity was observed across and within genotypes. The observed diversity can be challenging for future vaccine design and development of antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests for trichomoniasis.

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