3.9 Rhinesuchoides

This is the skull of a temnospondyl from the Late Permian of South Africa. Note the presence of the small orbits on the top surface of the rather dorsoventrally flattened head. Can you detect the otic notch and large palatal vacuities that characterise temnospondyls?

Look for a small V-shaped notch along the back margin of the head [otic notch], and the outline of large oval openings on the roof of the mouth [palatal vacuities].The last image shows the skull in palatal view.

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