Dinocephalia is a clade of large-bodied early therapsids that flourished for a brief time in the Middle Permian between 270 and 260 million years ago (Ma), but became extinct, leaving no descendants. Dinocephalians included herbivorous, carnivorous, and omnivorous forms. Many species had thickened skulls with many knobs and bony projections. Dinocephalian fossils are known from Russia, China, Brazil, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania.
Bradysaurus was a large, early and common pareiasaur, the fossils of which are known from the Tapinocephalus Assemblage Zone of the South African Karoo. Along with the similarly large dinocephalia, the bradysaurs constituted the herbivorous megafauna of the late Middle Permian Period. In life they were probably slow, clumsy and inoffensive animals, that had evolved a covering of armoured scutes to protect them against their predators, the gorgonopsians.
Anteosaurs are a group of large, primitive carnivorous dinocephalian therapsids with large canines and incisors and short limbs, that are known from the Middle Permian of South Africa, Russia, China, and Brazil. Some grew very large, with skulls 50–80 centimetres (20–31 in) long, and were the largest predators of their time. They died out at the end of the Middle Permian, possibly as a result of the extinction of the herbivorous Tapinocephalia on which they may have fed.
Anteosauridae is an extinct family of large carnivorous dinocephalian therapsids that are known from the Middle Permian of Asia, Africa, and South America.These animals were by far the largest predators of the Permian period, with skulls reaching 80 cm in length in adult individuals, far larger than the biggest gorgonopsian.
Estemmenosuchidae is an extinct family of large, very early herbivorous therapsids that flourished during the Guadalupian period. They are distinguished by horn-like structures, probably for display or agonistic behavior. Apart from the best known genus, Estemmenosuchus, the group is poorly known. To date, their fossils are known only from the Perm region of Russia.
Brithopus is an extinct genus of dinocephalian therapsids. It contains a single species, Brithopus priscus, known from fragmentary remains found in the Copper Sandstones near Isheevo, Russia.
Australosyodon is an extinct genus of dinocephalian therapsids from the middle Permian of South Africa. The first fossil was discovered in the 1980s near the village of Prince Albert Road in the Karoo region of South Africa.
Syodon is an extinct genus of dinocephalian therapsids that lived approximately 267-260 million years ago during the middle Permian period of the Paleozoic era. These therapsids, located in Russia were initially believed to be true mammals. Syodon was first named by Stephan Kutorga in 1838. The fossils of these Synapsids were first discovered in the Molotov Province region of Russia in limestone beds with a high content of copper. However, scientists believe that these organisms likely come from higher rock beds due to increased specializations in their morphology.
Aaaaba is a genus of beetles from the Buprestidae family. It inhabits locations along the east coast of Australia. It was described in 1864 by Achille Deyrolle as "Alcinous", a junior homonym of a genus of pycnogonids. In 2002, Charles Bellamy gave it the replacement name "Aaaba", but this proved to be another junior homonym, of a genus of sponges. In 2013, it was given a further replacement name, becoming Aaaaba.
Dinocephalia may refer to:
Agrilinae is a subfamily of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following genera:
Meliboeithon is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, the jewel beetles. They are native to Australia. There are six species.
Stanwatkinsius is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, the jewel beetles. They are native to Australia.
Synechocera is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, the jewel beetles. They are native to Australia.
Maoraxia is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:
Nascioides is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:
Notobubastes is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:
Pseudanilara is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:
Helferella is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:
Sinophoneus is an extinct genus of dinocephalian therapsids in the family Anteosauridae. A single fossilized skull has been found from the Middle Permian Xidagou Formation of China.
