In Depth Vivaxosaurus is a genus of dicynodont that lived in Russia during the late Permian. As with relative genera, Vivaxosaurus would have been a quadrupedal herbivore, using two enlarged tusks in the upper jaw to dig out plants. Further Reading - A new Permian dicynodont and the question of the origin of the Kannemeyeroidae. … Read more
In Depth Secodontosaurus is a fantastic genus of pelycosaur as not only do individuals have large sails on their backs, but they have skulls that are quite different to the other sphenacodontid pelycosaurs that they are related to. The naming of the Secodonotsaurus genus was actually a long time coming. The first Secodontosaurus fossils were … Read more
In Depth Colobodectes is a genus of dicynodont that lived in South Africa during the Permian. Further Reading - A new basal dicynodont from the Upper Permian of South Africa. - Palaeontology 46:211-223. - S. Modesto, B. Rubidge, I. Visser & J. Welman - 2003. - The Permian Dicynodont Colobodectes cluveri (Therapsida, Anomodontia), with Notes … Read more
In Depth Lophorhinus was a burnetiamorph biarmosuchian therapsid that lived in South Africa during the late Permian. As a burnetiamorph Lophorhinus was closer in form to the genus Burnetia than to Biarmosuchus. Other genera that Lophorhinus seems to be closely related to include Lobalopex and Pachydectes. Lophorhinus had enlargeds canine teeth that were likely the … Read more
In Depth Herpetoskylax was a biarmosuchian (relative to the better known Biarmosuchus) therapsid that lived in South Africa towards the end of the Mid Permian period. So far the genus is only known from skulls and lower jaws, but as a biarmosuchian, Herpetoskylax would have been a predator. Further Reading - Herpetoskylax hopsoni, a new … Read more
In Depth Kitchinganomodon is a genus of dicynodont that lived in South Africa during the Permian. Kitchinganomodon possessed a very powerful and robust st of jaws which could easily chew through tough vegetation. Further Reading - Observations on Karoo and Gondwana vertebrates: Part 4: The taxonomic status of the Late Permian rhachiocephalid Platycyclops crassus Broom, … Read more
In Depth A heavily built pelycosaur similar to Cotylorhynchus, Angelosaurus also shared its habitat with Caseopsis and Caseoides, all caseidids typified by the type genus of the group, Casea. These were a distinctive group of pelycosaurs that don’t seem to have been that specially adapted beyond being quadrupedal and having large round bodies that are … Read more
In Depth Palaeohatteria is a genus of sphenacodont pelycosaur that lived in Germany during the early Permian. So far however Palaeohatteria is only known by immature individuals. At times Palaeohatteria has been considered to be synonymous with the genus Haptodus, however some researchers continue to list Palaeohatteria as a distinct genus. Further Reading - Die … Read more
In Depth Deccanodon is a genus of cynodont that lived in India during the Triassic. Further Reading - A new mammal-like reptile (Cynodontia) from Upper Triassic Maleri Formation of Pranhita-Godavari Valley, Andhra Pradesh. - Journal of the Geological Society of India 69:57-60. - T. T. Nath & P. Yadagiri - 2007.
In Depth Occasionally interpreted as a very primitive mammal, Oligokyphus is today usually seen as a very late surviving cynodont, as well as one of the last of the non-mammalian therapsids. Still, Oligokyphus has been stated as being akin to a modern day weasel in terms of ecological niche, hunting for small animals on the … Read more