In Depth There has been a lot of uncertainty as to exactly what Rhopalodon was, but a 2005 study by Tverdokhlebov et al considered the genus to represent a mid-sized dinocephalian therapsid. Further Reading - Upper Permian vertebrates and their sedimentological context in the South Urals, Russia, - Earth-Science Reviews 69 27-77 55 - Valentin … Read more
In Depth Keratocephalus is a genus of tapinocephalid dinocephalian therapsid that lived in South Africa during the Permian. The most noteworthy thing about Keratocephalus is that known specimens show a range of variation to the point where there is speculation that the different skulls may be a sign of difference between males and females, or … Read more
In Depth Fossils of the dinocephalian genus Tapinocephalus are fairly common within the Lower Beaufort Beds, that the location where fossils of the genus are known is actually called the Tapinocephalus Assemblage Zone. Tapinocephalus seems to have been a successful genus of Tapinocephalus given the large number of remains, and superficially the genus resembles Moschops. … Read more
In Depth A relative of the genus Moschops, Criocephalosaurus was a tapniocephalid dinocephalian therapsid that lived in South Africa during the Permian. As with relative genera, Criocephalosaurus is noted for having a skull that grew extremely thick on top, perhaps as a form of display or as something used in head pushing contests with rivals. … Read more
In Depth Although other herbivorous therapsids like Styracocephalus also had head crests, Estemmenosuchus had by far the most elaborate head ornamentation. These crests varied between the two species, but superficially the head ornamentation resembled short deer antlers. The horns of Estemmenosuchus grow upwards from the frontal skull bones and seem to have primarily been display … Read more
In Depth Struthiocephalus is known from a fairly large number of individuals that represent various life stages and sexes, though originally these were broken up into distinct genera on the mistaken idea that the different growth stages and sexual dimorphism between specimens represented traits of different genera. What can be said about Struthiocephalus now is … Read more
In Depth Despite its massive size and teeth, the overall body of Anteosaurus was quite weak, leading to the suggestion that Anteosaurus was at least semi aquatic in its hunting like a crocodile. This means that Anteosaurus was likely an ambush hunter waiting for its prey to come towards it before attacking with overwhelming strength … Read more