In Depth Phorcys is a genus of gorgonopsid therapsid that lived in South Africa during the Permian. When named, Phorcys was described from a partial skull that revealed much of the posterior section but none of the anterior. Nonetheless these skulsl could still be compared to better preserved specimens of relative gorgonopsid genera. This led … Read more
In Depth Rubidgea is a genus of gorgonopsid that is known to have lived in South Africa during the Wuchiapingian stage of the Permian. Gorgonopsids are noted for having large canine teeth that projected down from the upper jaw, but Rubidgea seems to have had particularly large canine teeth when compared to other gorgonopsids. These … Read more
In Depth Originally named as Rubidgea laticeps by Robert Broom in 1940, Broomicephalus is a little known genus of gorgonopsid from South Africa. Based upon the description of skulls, there has been speculation that Broomicephalus may be a synonym to Clelandina. Further Reading - On some new genera and species of fossil reptiles from the … Read more
In Depth Gorgonops is the type genus of the Gorgonopsia, though paradoxically it is not the best represented by fossil remains. Gorgonops was a therapsid, a kind of creature more derived than a therapsid, yet still much more primitive than mammals which would eventually evolve from them. Because of the mammal lineage there has been … Read more
In Depth Although often compressed, and incomplete, Clelandina skulls have been noted as being particularly broad while having short snouts. These are two significant developments that may indicate that Clelandina had a particularly strong bite force. A wider skull would allow for greater room for larger (and hence more powerful) jaw closing muscles, while the … Read more
In Depth Lycaenops acquired its name from the striking similarity between it and modern wolves. Although Lycaenops itself was what is loosely termed a mammal like reptile, its similarity to wolves is most likely a case of convergent evolution. Some sources about prehistoric animals also go one further and claim that Lycaenops also hunted in … Read more