Gorgonospid Skull Replica

$212.00

Gorgonospid or Broomisaurus planiceps are the most morphologically homogeneous of the major therapsid clades. A distinctive feature of gorgonopsians is the large size of their canine teeth.

Description

Gorgonospid Skull Replica measures 16 x 15 inches or 41cm x 36cm. Gorgonospid Skull Replica is museum quality polyurethane cast. UCB specimen cast. Made in the USA. Our precise skull can be used as a teaching tool, museum skull exhibit, home décor skull, or office décor skull.

Gorgonospid or Broomisaurus planiceps is an extinct clade of non-mammalian synapsids from the Permian period. Gorgonopsians were quadrupedal predators and the largest species were the apex predators of their ecosystems.

Like other non-mammalian synapsids, gorgonopsians were once described as “mammal-like reptiles”, due to their mix of mammalian and reptilian traits. However, this description is no longer considered accurate as they are not reptiles. Rather, as therapsids, they are closely related to mammals. Gorgonopsian fossils have been found in Russia and Africa.

Gorgonospid or Broomisaurus planiceps are the most morphologically homogeneous of the major therapsid clades. A distinctive feature of gorgonopsians is the large size of their canine teeth.

In the majority of gorgonopsians, only the incisors and canines were large; the post canine teeth were reduced in both size and number, to the point where one genus, Clelandina, had no post canine teeth at all.

The dentition of Gorgonospid was intermediate between that of earlier amniotes and that of mammals. It was strongly heterodont, with distinct incisors, canines, and post canine teeth. Gorgonospids post canine teeth are homologous to the premolars and molars of mammals.

In Gorgonospid or Broomisaurus planiceps, as in some other therapsids, the upper canines had an unusual pattern of replacement. There were two canine alveoli in each maxilla, but only one functional tooth at a time on each side; one alveolus would bear a functional tooth while the other was growing a new one.

Gorgonospid left and right sides were not in sync, so the functional canine could be in the anterior alveolus on one side and the posterior alveolus on the other.

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Additional information

Weight 12 lbs
Dimensions 16 × 15 in
Gorgonospid Facts:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Therapsida
Suborder: †Gorgonopsia
Family: †Gorgonopsidae