Tapinocephalus

Tapinocephalus

• South Africa ( Karoo Supergroup )

• Tapinocephalus atherstonei Owen, 1876

Tapinocephalus is an extinct genus earlier therapsids ( "early mammal relatives" ) from the Mittelperm South Africa. The fossils of up to 3 meter long herbivore come from the Beaufort Group of the Karoo main basin. The only valid type T. atherstonei was first described in 1876 by British paleontologist Richard Owen. Tapinocephalus one of the earliest Therapsidenfunden world.

Features

With three meters in length and weighing about two tons Tapinocephalus was one of the largest animals of its ecosystem. Tapinocephalus had a thickened, up to 45 centimeters long skull with which the males probably contested battles over females or territory. The body was well built and finished in a short tail. The legs were like all early Dinocephaliern spread outward from ( Spreizgang ).

Discovery

Tapinocephalus is known by some skeletal remains, as well as postcranial elements. Due to the numerous finds the genus was eponymous for the so-called Tapinocephalus assemblage zone, which is the second lowest rock bank of the Beaufort Group. The Tapinocephalidae family is also named after the genus Tapinocephalus.

Way of life

The Tapinocephalus probably lived in herds. It is believed that he lived near water and possibly even spent a lot of time in the water.