Anomocephalus

A-nom-o-sef-a-lus.
By Nisha Yadav
Published on

Nisha Yadav

Physicist

Nisha Yadav is a dedicated physicist whose work bridges the gap between physics and paleontology. With a deep interest in the processes that preserve ancient life, she explores how physical principles govern fossilization and the preservation of extinct species.

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Yadav, N. (2013, April 6). Anomocephalus. Prehistoric-wildlife. https://www.prehistoric-wildlife.com/species/anomocephalus/

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Name

Anomocephalus ‭(‬Lawless head‭)‬.

Phonetic

A-nom-o-sef-a-lus.

Named By

S.‭ ‬Modesto,‭ ‬B.‭ ‬Rubidge‭ & ‬J.‭ ‬Welman‭ ‬-‭ ‬1999.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Therapsida,‭ ‬Anomocephaloidea.

Diet

Herbivore‭?

Species

A.‭ ‬africanus‭

Size

Skull‭ ‬21‭ ‬centimetres long.‭ ‬About‭ ‬1‭ ‬-‭ ‬1.2‭ ‬meters total body length.

Known locations

South Africa.

Time Period

Capitanian of the Permian.

Fossil representation

Right side of the skull and fragmentary post cranial remains.

In Depth

       Anomocephalus is considered to be a very basal anomodont,‭ ‬and one observation more than any other proves this‭; ‬Anomocephalus had a full set of teeth in both jaws.‭ ‬The dicynodont descendants of creatures like Anomocephalus would go on to have just two large tusks,‭ ‬and in a few cases,‭ ‬no teeth at all.‭ ‬Tiarajudens from Brazil has been considered to be a close relative of Anomocephalus.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬The most basal anomodont therapsid and the primacy of Gondwana in the evolution of the anomodonts,‭ ‬S.‭ ‬Modesto,‭ ‬B.‭ ‬Rubidge‭ & ‬J.‭ ‬Welman‭ ‬-‭ ‬1999.

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