Niccaurus

Nikkazavr ( Latin: Nikkasaurus ) is a representative of primitive therapsids from Middle Perm of Russia.

† Niccaurus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animals Type of: Chordata Grade: Synapsida Squad: ? Therapsida Family: Nikkasauridae Gender: Niccaurus
Latin name
Nikkasaurus

Very small animal (skull length about 5 cm). The muzzle is pointed, low. The eye sockets are huge, with a ring of sclerotics. The temporal window is much smaller than the orbit. The nape is tilted back, as with all therapsids. However, the outwardly skull is superficially similar to the skull of pelicosaurs (in particular, the Varanopeids ). The teeth are small, “fangs” do not stand out. The anterior teeth are needle-shaped, the posterior teeth are widened, and three-vertex. The skeleton is easy to build. Probably fed mainly by insects, could be nocturnal animals.

The only species ( N. tatarinovi ) was described by M.F. Ivakhnenko in 2000 from the Mezen subcomplex of the Ochersky complex of the Middle Permian. These deposits in the Arkhangelsk region correspond to the Late Kazan (Kepten) century of the Permian period.

The systematic position of the Nikcosaurus remains unclear - it probably belongs to therapsids, but it can also be a representative of more primitive synapsids . The genus Reiszia with two species ( R. gubini and R. tippula ), also described by Ivakhnenko in 2000 from the same deposits, also belongs to the Nikkasauridae family. Ivakhnenko brought together the Nikcosaurs with primitive terocephals . Niccasaurs can be relics of more ancient stages of the development of therapies.

In the latest ( 2008 ) summary on Perm therapsids, M.F.