. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Geology. THE LIBYAN MIOCENE 499 Atlas. Specimen M2igo2 is the only indubitable vertebra of Megistoiherium. It is essentially similar to that of Hyaenodon which differs but little from a canid atlas. The transverse process is greatly expanded in Megistotherium, which gives the bone a similarity to that of rhinoceros. The posterior margin of the process is greatly thickened to form a strong strut. On the ventral surface of the neural arch the longus colli tubercle is well developed while the dorsal surface of the arch is heavily scarred by the
. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Geology. THE LIBYAN MIOCENE 499 Atlas. Specimen M2igo2 is the only indubitable vertebra of Megistoiherium. It is essentially similar to that of Hyaenodon which differs but little from a canid atlas. The transverse process is greatly expanded in Megistotherium, which gives the bone a similarity to that of rhinoceros. The posterior margin of the process is greatly thickened to form a strong strut. On the ventral surface of the neural arch the longus colli tubercle is well developed while the dorsal surface of the arch is heavily scarred by the origin areas of the rectus capitis muscles. The cotyloid facets are deeply curved and firmly enclose the occipital condyles. The posterior axial facets are circular and fiat (a distinguishing feature from rhinoceroses where the facets are ovoid and concave). The vertebral canal opens posteriorly close to the axial facet, and anteriorly has a large opening on the ventral surface of the wing. The oblique foramen is situated relatively close to the anterior margin of. Fig. 12. Megistotherium osteothlastes gen. et sp. nov. Atlas. Dorsal aspect. (M21902), Gebel Zelten. ^•"4.'*\.. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original British Museum (Natural History). London : BM(NH)
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