Lieuwe Dirk Boonstra
Encyclopedia
Lieuwe Dirk Boonstra was a South Africa
n paleontologist whose work focused on the mammal-like reptiles
of the Middle (Tapinocephalus Assemblage Zone
) and Late Permian
, whose fossil remains are common in the South African Karroo. He was the author of a large number of papers on Therapsids and Pareiasaur
s, and described and revised a number of species
.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n paleontologist whose work focused on the mammal-like reptiles
Therapsida
Therapsida is a group of the most advanced synapsids, and include the ancestors of mammals. Many of the traits today seen as unique to mammals had their origin within early therapsids, including hair, lactation, and an erect posture. The earliest fossil attributed to Therapsida is believed to be...
of the Middle (Tapinocephalus Assemblage Zone
Tapinocephalus Assemblage Zone
The Tapinocephalus Assemblage Zone is a geological stratum and is the thickest faunal zone of the Beaufort Group, in which has been found a rich variety of early therapsids. The name refers to Tapinocephalus, a genus of large herbivorous dinocephalian synapsids that lived during the Middle Permian...
) and Late Permian
Permian
The PermianThe term "Permian" was introduced into geology in 1841 by Sir Sir R. I. Murchison, president of the Geological Society of London, who identified typical strata in extensive Russian explorations undertaken with Edouard de Verneuil; Murchison asserted in 1841 that he named his "Permian...
, whose fossil remains are common in the South African Karroo. He was the author of a large number of papers on Therapsids and Pareiasaur
Pareiasaur
The Pareiasaurs - Family Pareiasauridae - are a clade of medium-sized to large herbivorous anapsid reptiles that flourished during the Permian period....
s, and described and revised a number of species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
.