In Depth The incredibly broad range of Kannemeyeria fossils indicates that it probably had a worldwide distribution, especially across the southern continents. It is unknown how far north the full extent of Kannemeyeria was, but other similar dicynodonts such as Placerias are known from North America. Kannemeyeria is what you might call a typical large … Read more
In Depth Diegocanis is a genus of cynodont that lived in South America during the late Triassic. Diegocanis is similar to both Ecteninion & Trucidocynodon, and all of these genera fall within the Ecteniniidae. Further Reading - A new non-mammaliaform eucynodont from the Carnian-Norian Ischigualasto Formation, Northwestern Argentina. - Revista Brasileira de Paleontologia 16: 61. … Read more
In Depth Ictidorhinus is a genus of biarmosuchian therapsid that lived in South Africa during the late Permian. At the time of writing the genus is still only known by a single partial skull, that shows some juvenile characteristics such as a large orbit. Further Reading - On a nearly perfect skull of a new … Read more
In Depth Lacking teeth in the usual sense, Lystrosaurus had two tusks, typical of the dicynodonts. These tusks projected downwards from the maxilla, and are thought to have been used to dig up the nutritious roots of plants that grew in the arid climates of the time. It is also thought that Lystrosaurus had a … Read more
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 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 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