In Depth Originally described as a species of Dicynodon, Pelanomodon was a genus of dicynodont that lived in South Africa during the Permian. The type species of Pelanomodon is P. moschops, which should not be confused with the genus Moschops. Further Reading - A comprehensive taxonomic revision of Dicynodon (Therapsida, Anomodontia) and its implications for … Read more
In Depth Lycosuchus was a genus of therocephalia therapsid that lived in South Africa during the Late Permian. Lycosuchus would have been an active predator of other vertebrates, and is particularly noted for having two enlarged canine teeth in each side of the upper jaw. Further Reading - On an almost perfect skull of a … Read more
In Depth Lende is a genus of biarmosuchian therapsid that lived in Africa during the Permian. Further Reading - Lende chiweta, a new therapsid from Malawi, and its influence on burnetiamorph phylogeny and biogeography. - Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 35(6):e1008698. - A. G. Kruger, B. S. Rubidge, F. Abdala, E. Gomani Chindebvu & L. L. … Read more
In Depth Malasaurus is a genus of therocephalian that lived in what is now Russia during the mid-Triassic. Further Reading - Gomphodont cynodonts (Reptilia, Theriodontia) from the Middle Triassic of Orenburg Region. - Paleontological Journal 36 (3): 176–179. - L. P. Tatarinov - 2002.
In Depth Compsodon is a little known genus of dicynodont therapsid that lived in South Africa during the Late Permian. Further Reading – Oor die indeling van die Dicynodontidae na aanleiding van nuwe vorme. – Paleontologiese Navorsing van die Nasionale Museum, Bloemfontein, Deel II, Sesde Stuk, p. 67-101. – E. C. N. van Hoepen – … Read more
In Depth Cyonosaurus is a genus of gorgonopsid that lived in South Africa during the late Permian. As a gorgnopsid, Cyonosaurus would have been a predator of other animals, smaller to equal in size in its self. Smaller species of Cyonosaurus with skulls about nine centimetres long grew to about sixty centimetres in length, while … Read more
In Depth Although the name essentially means crocodile, Procynosuchus was actually a cynodont descended from mammal like reptiles like the therapsids. Procynosuchus is not the only mammal like reptile to cause some confusion like this as others such as the therapsids Biarmoscuhus and Titanosuchus suggest that they are crocodiles when you glance at the name, … Read more
In Depth Beishanodon is a genus of cynodont therapsid that lived in China during the Triassic. Further Reading - A new nonmammalian eucynodont (Synapsida: Therapsida) from the Triassic of northern Gansu Province, China, and its biostratigraphic and biogeographic implications. - American Museum Novitates 3685:1-25. - K.-Q. Gao, R. C. Fox, C.-F. Zhou & D.-Q. Li … 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 Suminia is an interesting little genus of anomodont therapsid that lived in Russia during the Permian. Though the mouth was full of sharp and proportionately large teeth, wear patterns upon the teeth themselves indicate that they were being repeatedly used to process plant material, meaning that Suminia was herbivorous. The holotype specimen of … Read more