In Depth Although other herbivorous therapsids like Styracocephalus also had head crests, Estemmenosuchus had by far the most elaborate head ornamentation. These crests varied between the two species, but superficially the head ornamentation resembled short deer antlers. The horns of Estemmenosuchus grow upwards from the frontal skull bones and seem to have primarily been display … Read more
In Depth Although often compressed, and incomplete, Clelandina skulls have been noted as being particularly broad while having short snouts. These are two significant developments that may indicate that Clelandina had a particularly strong bite force. A wider skull would allow for greater room for larger (and hence more powerful) jaw closing muscles, while the … Read more
In Depth Charassognathus is a genus of cynodont therapsid that lived in South Africa during the late Permian. Further Reading - The oldest cynodont: new clues on the origin and early diversification of the Cynodontia. - Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 149(3):477-492. - J. Botha, F. Abdala & R. M. H. Smith - 2007.
In Depth Daptocephalus is a genus of therapsid that lived in South Africa during the late Permian. Further Reading – The anatomy of the anomodont Daptocephalus leoniceps (owen). Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London vol136, issue 3. – R. F. Ewer – 1961. – The Daptocephalus Assemblage Zone (Lopingian), South Africa: a proposed biostratigraphy … Read more
In Depth Riograndia is a genus of cynodont that lived in Brazil during the Triassic. Further Reading - A primitive Late Triassic ‘ictidosaur’ from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. - Palaeontology 44(4):623-635. - J. F. Bonaparte, J. Ferigolo & A. M. Ribeiro - 2001. – New information on Riograndia guaibensis Bonaparte, Ferigolo & Ribeiro, 2001 … Read more
In Depth Biarmosuchus is noted as being a primitive theraspid, the group of mammal like reptiles that evolved from the pelycosaurs, and whose descendents would go onto becoming the first mammals. As a predator, Biarmosuchus was likely a fast hunter capable of running down its prey. This is evidenced by its long slender limbs that … Read more
In Depth Ruhuhucerberus is a genus of gorgonopsid that lived in Tanzania during the Permian. The Ruhuhucerberus type species was originally named as a species of Aelurognathus called A. aughtoni, but was split and elevated to genus level by Maisch in 2002. A second species of Ruhuhucerberus, R. terror, is now considered to be synonymous … Read more
In Depth Dadadon is a massetognathine cynodont that lived in Madagascar during the Triassic. Further Reading - New traversodontids (Synapsida, Eucynodontia) from the Triassic of Madagascar. - Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 20(3):422-427. - J. J. Flynn, J. M. Parrish, B. Rakotosamimanana, L. Ranivoharimanana, W. F. Simpson & A. R. Wyss - 2000. – New material … Read more
In Depth Kombuisia is a genus of dicynodont that lived during the Triassic. The first fossil remains of Kombuisia were found in South Africa, but a second species, K. antarctica, has now been discovered on the continent of Antarctica. Further Reading - A new dicynodont (Reptilia, Therapsida) from Cynognathus Zone deposits of South Africa. - … Read more
In Depth Moschorhinus is an interesting genus of therocephalian therapsid as the genus developed cranial features that were very similar to gorgonopsid therapsids, even though it was not a direct relative of them. Like the gorgonopsids, Moschorhinus was a key predator of the time, hunting medium to large herbivorous animals. The main killing weapons used … Read more