. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Geology. 498 MEGISTOTHERIUM FROM the posteroexternal and not anteroexternal root, and the tooth length was apparently slightly greater than the width. From the three roots preserved on the left side P^ appears to have been a larger version of P^, although the transverse width across the root is greater than their length. On the right side the anterior root has been resorbed and the internal root is in process of being resorbed; this condition may relate to the bone pathology. Only the roots of M^ survive; the posterior root is the largest and
. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Geology. 498 MEGISTOTHERIUM FROM the posteroexternal and not anteroexternal root, and the tooth length was apparently slightly greater than the width. From the three roots preserved on the left side P^ appears to have been a larger version of P^, although the transverse width across the root is greater than their length. On the right side the anterior root has been resorbed and the internal root is in process of being resorbed; this condition may relate to the bone pathology. Only the roots of M^ survive; the posterior root is the largest and the internal root is opposite the anteroexternal root. The slightly larger size of the internal root would suggest that the protocone was rather larger than the paracone. The second molar was the largest cheek tooth and is partially preserved on both sides; the tooth closely resembles in pattern the first (not second) molar of Pterodon. The paracone and metacone are connate but distinguishable and succeeded by a stout shearing metastyle; there is a small parastyle and well developed protocone; the tooth is considerably longer than broad. The third molar was a small two-rooted transverse tooth, again much as in Pterodon, although known only from root fragments. Post-cranial Skeleton. In the absence of associated remains, the attribution of post-cranial bones is rarely easy, often difficult and frequently impossible. The bones described below are for the most part indubitable creodont carnivore and their size distinguishes them from small species in the same beds. cm,. -III Fig. II. Megistotherium osteothlastes gen. et sp. nov. Brain endocast. Ventral aspect. From cranium (M26515), Gebel 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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