In Depth Ictidognathus is a genus of therapsid that lived in South Africa during the Permian. Further Reading – On some New South African Permian Reptiles. – Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1911, p. 1073-1082. – Robert Broom – 1911.
In Depth Prodicynodon is a genus of dicynodont therapsid from Africa. Further Reading - On two new endothiodont genera (Prodicynodon and Opisthoctenodon). - Records of the Albany Museum 1:69-73. - Robert Broom - 1904. – CT reconstruction and systematic position of the enigmatic dicynodont Prodicynodon beaufortensis. – Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 34(3, Supplement): 194–195. – … Read more
In Depth As a genus Sinoconodon represents one of the most primitive mammaliaforms currently known to science. There were once four species of Sinoconodon named, but it was eventually realised that all of these fossils represented individuals of the same species but at different growth stages. Only the type species, S. rigneyi today remains valid. … Read more
In Depth Tetraceratops has proven a headache for palaeontologists since its discovery, as it is either a pelycosaur, or potentially an early form of the coming therapsids that would displace the pelycosaurs as dominant predators. Evidence to support the therapsid theory comes from similarities in the temporal fenestra between Tetraceratops and biarmarosuchians, primitive therapsids that … Read more
In Depth Named from a partial skull, Glanosuchus is still one of the more interesting therapsid predators of the Permian. The ear structure of Glanosuchus reveals the early stages towards a development of an inner ear, something that later mammals would possess. This would mean that Glanosuchus likely had better hearing than earlier synapsids, though … 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 Mupashi is a genus therocephalian therapsid that lived in Zambia during the Permian. Further Reading - The first karenitid (Therapsida, Therocephalia) from the upper Permian of Gondwana and the biogeography of Permo-Triassic therocephalians. - Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. - A. K. Huttenlocker & C. A. Sidor - 2016.
In Depth Pristerodon is a genus of dicynodont that lived during the late Permian. Like relative genera, Pristerodon was a plant eater and likely dug out burrows on flood plains. Analysis of one Pristerodon has revealed the presence of an eardrum in the lower jaw. Not only has this given us an insight into how … Read more
In Depth Traversodon is a genus of cynodont that lived in South America during the Triassic. Further Reading – Lieferung 2. Cynodontia [Part 2. Cynodontia] - Die Fossilen Reptilien des S�damerikanischen Gondwanalandes. Ergebnisse der Sauriergrabungen in S�dbrasilien 1928/29 [The Fossil Reptiles of South American Gondwanaland. Results of the Dinosaur Expeditions in southern Brazil 1928/29]. - … Read more
In Depth Diictodon was a burrowing dicynodont that appears to have been extremely numerous and widespread. It had a short round body, stubby legs and sharp claws on the front feet, all very good adaptations for burrowing life. Although Diictodon did not build interconnecting burrows with others of its species, evidence suggests that large numbers … Read more