In Depth Reiszia is a genus of synapsid that lived in Russia during the Permian. Further Reading Further reading- The Nikkasauridae-Problematic Primitive Therapsids from the Late Permian of the Mezen Localities. – Paleontol. J. 34(Suppl. 2), 179–186. – M. F. Ivakhnenko – 2000.- Podklass Theromorpha. In M. F. Ivakhnenko and E. N. Kurochkin (eds.), Iskopaemye … Read more
In Depth Not to be confused with the ceratopsian dinosaur Styracosaurus, Styracocephalus was a theraspid herbivore from what is now South Africa. At four and a half meters long, it was only slightly smaller than the more famous Moschops, but still appears to have had a similar lifestyle browsing upon vegetation. The most recognisable feature … Read more
In Depth Although similar to Casea, Cotylorhynchus was considerably larger and at six meters long, represents the largest known caseid pelycosaur. This large size was its best defence against the known predators of the time which were all much smaller than Cotylorhynchus, even the largest example of the fearsome Dimetrodon was still only half its … Read more
In Depth Niaftasuchus is a genus of biarmosuchian therapsid that lived in Russia during the mid/late Permian. At the time of writing Niaftasuchus is only known from a partial skull, but as a biarmosuchian, Niaftasuchus would be expected to have been a predator. Given the small size of the skull, Niaftasuchus would have probably been … Read more
In Depth Driveria is a genus of tapinocephalid dinocephalian synapsid that lived in what is now Texas during the mid Permian. Driveria was named in honour of O. W. Driver, the owner of the ranch where the type remains of Driveria were found. Further Reading - Late Permian terrestrial vertebrates, U.S.A. and U.S.S.R. - Transactions … Read more
In Depth Eothyris is currently only known from a skull, but from this a little can be inferred about the lifestyle of this genus. The mouth was filled with sharp and pointed teeth, with a pair of enlarged fangs that were near the front of the upper jaw. These were likely used to snare and … Read more
In Depth Bathygnathus is a little known genus of pelycosaur that lived in Canada during the Early Permian. Though only known from partial remains, studies of these fossils have led to the suggestion that Bathygnathus would have been similar to pelycosaurs like Dimetrodon. Further Reading - [Fragment of a jaw of an extinct saurian animal]. … Read more
In Depth Ulemosaurus is very much like the therapsid Moschops, not only in the type of creature that it was, but also in the fact that its skull was also up to ten centimetres thick. Its possible that like in the related Moschops, this bone thickness allowed for head butting or head pushing contests. Although … Read more
In Depth Kwazulusaurus is a genus of dicynodont that lived in South Africa during the late Permian. Kwazulusaurus seems to be transitional in form, as even though many of the features of the genus are quite primitive, Kwazulusaurus does have some similar features as the more advanced Lystrosaurus. Further Reading - A new basal lystrosaurid … Read more
In Depth Lanthanostegus is a genus of synapsid that lived in South Africa during the Permian. Further Reading - Erratum: A replacement name for Lanthanocephalus Modesto, Rubidge and Welman 2002, not Lanthanocephalus Williams and Starmer 2000. - Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 40(3):467. - S. P. Modesto, B. S. Rubidge & J. Welman - 2003.