Abstract

The dicynodont species “Cryptocynodon” parringtoni von Huene, 1942 was described from a single poorly preserved specimen collected from the Upper Permian Kawinga Formation, Ruhuhu Basin, Tanzania. No additional specimens have been referred to the species since its erection. Two new specimens of “C.” parringtoni, which were collected from the Kawinga Formation in 1933, are described. The holotype and new specimens share tusks, the absence of postcanine teeth, a shortened snout, relatively large palatines that contact the premaxillary secondary palate, a blade-like mid-ventral vomerine plate, and an intertuberal ridge between the basisphenoid-basioccipital tubera. The new specimens also allow the description of many previously unknown characters of the species, including an intertemporal region in which the postorbitals extensively overlap the parietals but are relatively horizontally oriented for most of their width; the presence of paired anterior palatal ridges; the absence of a labial fossa; the presence of palatine pads that are rugose posteriorly, but smoother where they contact the secondary palate; the presence of a dorsal process on the anterior end of the epipterygoid footplate; markedly shortened dentary tables; the presence of a posterior dentary sulcus; and the presence of a slit-like mandibular fenestra. Size and proportional differences between the holotype and new specimens suggest that the former is a juvenile. The morphology of the new specimens demonstrates that “C.” parringtoni is not part of Cryptocynodon, Pristerodon, or Diictodon, and the species is referred to a new taxon, Katumbia, gen. nov. A phylogenetic analysis suggests that Katumbia is a member of the large clade that includes Tropidostoma and Kannemeyeria, although its exact position within the clade is uncertain. Confirmation that Katumbia parringtoni, comb. nov., is a distinct, valid dicynodont species that is endemic to Tanzania reinforces the uniqueness of the Ruhuhu fauna and provides further evidence of provinciality among Late Permian terrestrial vertebrates.