A relict rhinesuchid (Amphibia : Temnospondyli) from the Lower Triassic ofSouth Africa

'Lydekkerina' putterilli Broom from the Lystrosaurus Assemblage Zone (Middl e Beaufort Group, South Africa) is shown to be a paedomorphic rhinesuchid ( Broomistega putterilli gen. nov.) rather than a lydekkerinid or juvenile st age of the rhinesuchid Uranocentrodon, as previously presumed. The most con spicuous characters, not related to its paedomorphic condition, include the shape of the parietals and the structure of the parasphenoid body and exoc cipitals. The pattern of cranial growth changes in Broomistega has been inv estigated by comparison of the holotype with two hitherto undescribed immat ure specimens. For several characters referring to the size and position of the orbits, and re-modelling of the jugal proportions, retarded timing of growth transformations, compared to ontogenetic patterns in Permian rhinesu chids (typified by Muchocephalus) is demonstrated. Some features of the evo lution of the basicranial region of the skull, in the transition from rhine suchids to more advanced capitosauroids, are re-evaluated.