In Depth Dubbed ‘scarface’ in the popular media when first described, Ichibengops is a possibly second genus of venomous therocephalian therapsid that lived in Africa during the Late Permian. This is because Ichibengops has similar grooved teeth with potential placement of venom glands as another genus of therocephalian therapsid called Euchambersia, also speculated to have … Read more
In Depth Menadon is a genus of cynodont that lived in both Madagascar and Brazil, during the Triassic. Given that these two locations would have still been attached to Africa during the Triassic, it is likely that Menadon was also present in parts of Africa, though at the time of writing no fossils have been … Read more
In Depth Xiyukannemeyeria is a genus of dicynodont that lived in China during the Triassic. Further Reading - [A new material of kannemeyerid from Xinjiang and the restudy of Parakannemeyeria brevirostris]. - Vertebrata PalAsiatica 41(2):147-156. - J. Liu & J.-L. Li - 2003.
In Depth Cynosaurus is a genus of therapsid that lived in South Africa during the Late Permian, and is perceived to have been similar to Galesaurus. Cynosaurus should not be confused with the genus Cyonosaurus. Further Reading – Cranial morphology and phylogenetic analyses of Cynosaurus suppostus (Therapsida, Cynodontia) from the upper Permian of the Karoo … Read more
In Depth Deuterosaurus was a dinocephalian therapsid that lived in what is now Russia during the mid Permian. Skulls of Deuterosaurus range in size from about 23 centimetres for smaller species, to about 80 for particularly large species. These larger species would make Deuterosaurus one of the larger land animals of the Permian. Dinocephalian therapsids … Read more
In Depth As a late surviving member of the group, Varanops is often cited as one of the last of the pelycosaurs. With its relatively long legs, Varanops may have been more suited to open ground, as opposed to dense undergrowth where they may have been of a hindrance. They may have also provided for … Read more
In Depth Katumbia is a genus of dicynodont that lived in Tanzania during the Permian. Further Reading - New specimens of the Tanzanian dicynodont “Cryptocynodon parringtoni” von Huene, 1942 (Therapsida, Anomodontia), with an expanded analysis of Permian dicynodont phylogeny. - Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 27(1):116-131. - K. D. Angielczyk - 2007.
In Depth Galeops is a genus dromasaurian therapsid that lived in South Africa during the Late Permian. Further Reading - On some New Fossil Reptiles from the Permian and Triassic Beds of South Africa. Proceedings of the zoological Society London - Robert Broom - 1912.
In Depth Trochosuchus is a little known genus of therapsid that lived in South Africa during the Permian. Care should be taken not to confuse Trochosuchus with Trochosaurus, the type genus of the therapsid group which Trochosuchus belongs too. Further Reading – Catalogue of types and figured specimens of fossil vertebrates in the American Museum … Read more
In Depth Paraburnetia is a genus of biarmosuchian therapsid that lived in South Africa during the Late Permian. The name Paraburnetia means ‘near Burnetia’, a reference to the similarity of this genus to Burnetia. Further Reading - A new burnetiid (Therapsida: Biarmosuchia) from the Upper Permian of South Africa and its biogeographic implications. - Journal … Read more