Osteology and revised diagnosis of Cherninia denwai from the Middle Triassic Denwa Formation, Satpura Gondwana Basin, Central India

The Middle Triassic Denwa Formation located within the Satpura Gondwana basin of Central India exhibits a significant presence of temnospondyl amphibians classified under the family Mastodonsauridae. Prior investigations have documented two taxa of the Mastodonsauridae family, namely Cherninia denwai and Paracyclotosaurus crookshanki, from the Denwa Formation. These prior accounts were predominantly predicated upon two holotype skull specimens, thereby neglecting other specimens contained within the collection as well as various associated post-cranial materials. Recently, a diverse assortment of novel specimens pertaining to C. denwai has been unearthed from the Denwa Formation. Utilizing both the newly acquired specimens and previously overlooked specimens, this study presents a redescription of C. denwai. The newly discovered specimens comprise a partial skull, a mandible, clavicles, interclavicles, vertebrae, neural arches and spines, ulnae, an ilium, a femur, and a fibula, all of which are described herein for the first time. An extensive osteological analysis of the skull and mandible is conducted. It is noted that C. denwai coexists temporally with C. megarhina, and both taxa exhibit distinct synapomorphies; however, they are recognized as separate and unique species.