First occurrence of Paracyclotosaurus (Temnospondyli, Capitosauridae) in the Karoo basin of South Africa and its biostratigraphic significance

A new capitosaurid temnospondyl from the upper part of the Cynognathus Asse mblage Zone of the Permo-Triassic Beaufort Group represents the first occur rence of the genus Paracyclotosaurus in South Africa. The discovery, in the southern part of the Karoo Basin, represents part of a new fauna considere d to be of Anisian (early Middle Triassic) age. Paracyclotosaurus is also k nown from the Middle Triassic of Australia and India, and its discovery in the Cynognathus Assemblage Zone suggests a late Anisian age for the upper p art of this biozone.