''Tapinocaninus'' is an extinct

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

therapsids Therapsida is a major group of eupelycosaurian synapsids that includes mammals, their ancestors and relatives. Many of the traits today seen as unique to mammals had their origin within early therapsids, including limbs that were oriented mo ...

in the family

Tapinocephalidae Tapinocephalidae was an advanced family of tapinocephalians. It is defined as the clade containing '' Ulemosaurus'', ''Tapinocaninus'', and the Tapinocephalinae. They are known from both Russia and South Africa. In all probability, the Tapinocep ...

, of which it is the most basal member. Only one species is known, ''Tapinocaninus pamelae'' (meaning "Pam's humble canine"). Fossils have been found dating from the

Middle Permian The Guadalupian is the second and middle series/ epoch of the Permian. The Guadalupian was preceded by the Cisuralian and followed by the Lopingian. It is named after the Guadalupe Mountains of New Mexico and Texas, and dates between 272.95 ± ...

(

Wordian In the geologic timescale, the Wordian is an age or stage of the Permian. It is the middle of three subdivisions of the Guadalupian Epoch or Series. The Wordian lasted between and million years ago (Ma). It was preceded by the Roadian and f ...

age).

Description

This species is known from several skulls. It was a large animal, reaching up to in body mass. It is assumed to be either a herbivore or an omnivore. This dinocephalian has a heterodont dentition, consisting of incisors, canines and postcanines. Its canine teeth lack a definite crushing heel. The maxillary and premaxillary dentition is only partially preserved. The species is named in honour of Rubidge's mother.

Discovery

Fossils have been found in the

Eodicynodon Assemblage Zone The ''Eodicynodon'' Assemblage Zone is a tetrapod assemblage zone or biozone which correlates to the Abrahamskraal Formation, Adelaide Subgroup of the Beaufort Group, a fossiliferous and geologically important geological Group of the Karoo Superg ...

of the Karoo deposits, in the Lower Beaufort Beds in Beaufort West, by the director of the BPI, Professor Bruce Rubidge. Four specimens are known. A holotype (NMQR 2987) and three paratypes (NMQR 2985, 2986 and ROZ K95). All of them are known from skull and mandible bones.Rubidge, 1991, "A new primitive dinocephalian mammal-like reptile from the Permian of southern Africa"

References

External links

at Kheper Tapinocephalians Prehistoric therapsid genera Wordian genera Guadalupian synapsids of Africa Fossil taxa described in 1991 {{Paleo-therapsid-stub