Fig. 8: Feeding functional subgroup and size differentiation within carnivorous synapsid assemblages through the late Palaeozoic.
From: Predatory synapsid ecomorphology signals growing dynamism of late Palaeozoic terrestrial ecosystems
The feeding functional subgroup classifications and size of carnivorous synapsids within late Palaeozoic fossil assemblages, illustrating potential ecological similarity and changes in niche differentiation. Body size represented by Log10(mm) femur length. *Size based on Permian specimen as Early Triassic specimen with complete femur length measurement could not be sourced—Early Triassic specimens are typically smaller owing to Lilliput effect across the PTME73. Key geological events shown. Epochs are colour coded by period: Carboniferous (green), Permian (orange), and Triassic (purple). N = 81. BIA Biarmosuchia, CIST. AZ Cistecephalus Assemblage Zone149, CYN Cynodontia, DIN Dinocephalia, DSS Deep shearing specialist, ECE End-Capitanian extinction, END. AZ Endothiodon Assemblage Zone (Lycosuchus—Eunotosaurus subzone)148, EOT Eothyrididae, E. Tri Early Triassic, FFsG Feeding functional subgroup, FG Forceful gripper, FL Femur length, GG Gracile gripper, GRA Grip and rip attacker, GRG Gorgonopsia, Lcm Locomotion, LYST. AZ Lystrosaurus declivis Assemblage Zone89, OE Olson’s extinction, OPH Ophiacodontidae, PBS Power bite specialist, Penn Pennsylvanian, PTME Permo-Triassic mass extinction, RLA Rapid light attacker, SBS Shearing bite specialist, SPH Sphenacodontia (non-therapsid), TAP. AZ Tapinocephalus Assemblage Zone (Diictodon—Styracocephalus subzone)147, THR Therocephalia, VAR Varanopidae. Biarmosuchia, Dinocephalia and Therocephalia silhouettes by Dmitry Bogdanov (vectorized by T. Michael Keesey); all other silhouettes created by S.A.S., but some are vectorised from artwork by Felipe Alves Elias (https://www.paleozoobr.com/), available for academic use with attribution.
