In Depth Rastodon is a genus of dicynodont that lived in Brazil during the Permian. Like other dicynodonts, Rastodon had two tusks which grew downwards from the upper jaw. However, unlike dicynodont genera named before 2016, the tusks of Rastodon are noted as actually curving to point slightly forwards. Further Reading - A new dicynodont … Read more
In Depth Lycideops is a genus of therocephalian therapsid that lived in South Africa during the Late Permian. Further Reading - The Oldest Therocephalians (Therapsida, Eutheriodontia) and the Early Diversification of Therapsida. - Palaeontology 51 (4): 1011. - F. Abdala, B. S. Rubidge & J. Van Den Heever - 2008. - Reassessment of the morphology … Read more
In Depth Emyduranus is a genus of non-mammalian synapsid that lived in South Africa during the Permian. Further Reading - On some new genera and species of anomodont reptiles from the Karroo beds of South Africa. - Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 647-674. - Robert Broom - 1921.
In Depth Ictidognathus is a genus of therapsid that lived in South Africa during the Permian. Further Reading – On some New South African Permian Reptiles. – Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1911, p. 1073-1082. – Robert Broom – 1911.
In Depth As a genus Sinoconodon represents one of the most primitive mammaliaforms currently known to science. There were once four species of Sinoconodon named, but it was eventually realised that all of these fossils represented individuals of the same species but at different growth stages. Only the type species, S. rigneyi today remains valid. … Read more
In Depth Named from a partial skull, Glanosuchus is still one of the more interesting therapsid predators of the Permian. The ear structure of Glanosuchus reveals the early stages towards a development of an inner ear, something that later mammals would possess. This would mean that Glanosuchus likely had better hearing than earlier synapsids, though … Read more
In Depth Originally named as Rubidgea laticeps by Robert Broom in 1940, Broomicephalus is a little known genus of gorgonopsid from South Africa. Based upon the description of skulls, there has been speculation that Broomicephalus may be a synonym to Clelandina. Further Reading - On some new genera and species of fossil reptiles from the … Read more
In Depth Mupashi is a genus therocephalian therapsid that lived in Zambia during the Permian. Further Reading - The first karenitid (Therapsida, Therocephalia) from the upper Permian of Gondwana and the biogeography of Permo-Triassic therocephalians. - Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. - A. K. Huttenlocker & C. A. Sidor - 2016.
In Depth Pristerodon is a genus of dicynodont that lived during the late Permian. Like relative genera, Pristerodon was a plant eater and likely dug out burrows on flood plains. Analysis of one Pristerodon has revealed the presence of an eardrum in the lower jaw. Not only has this given us an insight into how … Read more
In Depth Traversodon is a genus of cynodont that lived in South America during the Triassic. Further Reading – Lieferung 2. Cynodontia [Part 2. Cynodontia] - Die Fossilen Reptilien des S�damerikanischen Gondwanalandes. Ergebnisse der Sauriergrabungen in S�dbrasilien 1928/29 [The Fossil Reptiles of South American Gondwanaland. Results of the Dinosaur Expeditions in southern Brazil 1928/29]. - … Read more