In Depth
Ufudocyclops is a genus of dicynodont therapsid that lived in Southern Africa during the mid Triassic. Remains of several skulls of Ufudocyclops are known and these suggest that Ufudocyclops not only lacked tusks, but was completely toothless. Instead of teeth, Ufudocyclops seems to have had a large keratinous beak that was used to shear through plants. Rugose patterning upon the skull of Ufudocyclops supports this assessment as these would have been were the keratin grew from.
Further Reading
- A new kannemeyeriiform dicynodont (Ufudocyclops mukanelai, gen. et sp. nov.) from Subzone C of the Cynognathus Assemblage Zone, Triassic of South Africa, with implications for biostratigraphic correlation with other African Triassic Faunas. - Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. - Christian F. Kammerer, Pia A. Viglietti, P. John Hancox, Richard J. Butler & Jonah N. Choiniere - 2019.