Dicynodon


Dicynodon is a genus of dicynodont therapsid that flourished during the Upper Permian period. Like all dicynodonts, it was herbivorous. This animal was toothless, except for prominent tusks, hence the name. It probably cropped vegetation with a horny beak, much like a tortoise, while the tusks may have been used for digging up roots and tubers.
Many species of Dicynodon have been named, and the genus is considered a wastebasket taxon. A 2011 study of the genus found most of the species to represent a paraphyletic grouping, with the only valid members of Dicynodon being D. lacerticeps and D. huenei. A 2019 study named a new species D. angielczyki, but simultaneously transferred D. huenei to the genus Daptocephalus.

Description

Dicynodon was a medium-sized and advanced member of the Dicynodont group. It had an average length of, although size differed among species. Its fossil remains have been found in sediments of latest Permian age in South Africa and Tanzania.
The type species is Dicynodon lacerticeps Owen, 1845. A large number of species have since been placed in this genus, some of which turned out to be synonyms of other species, others have been moved to different genera.

Species

Two species of Dicynodon are currently recognized: the type species D. lacerticeps from South Africa and the species D. angielczyki from Tanzania. Since the genus was first named, over 160 species have been assigned to Dicynodon. A 2011 study of the genus found 11 of these species to be valid, although most are now assigned to other dicynodont genera. Below is a list of all species that have ever been assigned to Dicynodon. Since their naming, most have been considered as synonymous with other dicynodont species. Names in bold are still referable to Dicynodon.
SpeciesAuthorityAgeLocationUnitStatus
Dicynodon acutirostrisBroom, 1935Late PermianTropidostoma Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Tropidostoma dubium
Dicynodon aetorhamphusBroom, 1948Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Dicynodon lacerticeps
Dicynodon alfrediEarly TriassicLystrosaurus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Lystrosaurus declivis
Dicynodon allaniBroom, 1940Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon alticepsBroom and Haughton, 1913Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneValid as Sintocephalus alticeps
Dicynodon amalitzkiiSushkin, 1926Late PermianUpper VyatkianValid as Peramodon amalitzkii
Dicynodon andrewsiBroom, 1921Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon angielczykiKammerer, 2019Late PermianUsili FormationValid
Dicynodon annaeSushkin, 1926Late PermianUpper VyatkianJunior synonym of Vivaxosaurus trautscholdi
Dicynodon anneaeBroom, 1940Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Dinanomodon gilli
Dicynodon antjiesfonteinensisToerien, 1953Middle PermianTapinocephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Diictodon feliceps
Dicynodon bainiiOwen, 1845Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneValid as Aulacephalodon bainii
Dicynodon bathyrhynchusvon Huene, 1942Late PermianUpper Usili FormationValid as Euptychognathus bathyrhynchus
Dicynodon benjaminiBroom, 1948Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneValid as Keyseria benjamini
Dicynodon bogdaensisKing, 1988Late PermianGuodikeng FormationValid as Turfanodon bogdaensis
Dicynodon bolorhinoidesWatson, 1960Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Aulacephalodon bainii
Dicynodon bolorhinusBroom, 1913Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon brachyrhynchusBroom, 1948Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon brevicepsHaughton, 1915Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon brevirostrisBroom, 1913Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage Zone or Dicynodon Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon broomiBroili and Schröder, 1937Middle PermianTapinocephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Diictodon feliceps
Dicynodon broiliiBoonstra, 1948Middle PermianTapinocephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Diictodon feliceps
Dicynodon cadleiBroom, 1940Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Dicynodon lacerticeps
Dicynodon calverleyiBroom, 1940Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Basilodon woodwardi
Dicynodon cavifronsBroom and Haughton, 1917Late PermianTropidostoma Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Tropidostoma dubium
Dicynodon clarenceiBroom, 1950Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Dicynodontoides recurvidens
Dicynodon copeiSeeley, 1889Early TriassicLystrosaurus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Lystrosaurus murrayi
Dicynodon cordylusLydekker, 1889Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneNomen dubium
Dicynodon corstorphineiBroom and Haughton, 1917Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon curtusBroom, 1921Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon curvatusOwen, 1876Early TriassicLystrosaurus Assemblage ZoneValid as Lystrosaurus curvatus
Dicynodon cyclopsHaughton, 1917Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon daptocephaloidesToerien, 1955Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Daptocephalus leoniceps
Dicynodon declivisOwen, 1860Early TriassicLystrosaurus Assemblage ZoneValid as Lystrosaurus declivis
Dicynodon depressusEarly TriassicLystrosaurus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Lystrosaurus declivis
Dicynodon dubiusOwen, 1876Late PermianTropidostoma Assemblage ZoneValid as Tropidostoma dubium
Dicynodon duffianusvon Huene, 1940Late PermianCutties Hillock Sandstone FormationJunior synonym of Gordonia traquairi
Dicynodon dunniiSeeley, 1889Late PermianTropidostoma Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Tropidostoma dubium
Dicynodon dutoitiBroom and Schepers, 1937Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Dicynodon lacerticeps
Dicynodon duvenhageiBroom, 1948Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Dicynodontoides recurvidens
Dicynodon eurycepsBoonstra, 1938Late PermianUpper Madumabisa MudstoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon felicepsOwen, 1876Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage Zone or Dicynodon Assemblage ZoneValid as Diictodon feliceps
Dicynodon galecephalusBroom and Robinson, 1948Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Dinanomodon gilli
Dicynodon gamkaensisBroom, 1937Middle PermianTapinocephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Diictodon feliceps
Dicynodon gilliBroom, 1932Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneValid as Dinanomodon gilli
Dicynodon glaucopsBroom, 1948Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon graaffiBroom, 1940Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon gracilisBroom, 1913Late PermianTropidostoma Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Dicynodontoides recurvidens
Dicynodon grahamiBroom, 1940Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneNomen dubium
Dicynodon grandisHaughton, 1917Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneIncertae sedis
Dicynodon greyiiBroom, 1913Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon grimbeekiBroom, 1935Late PermianTropidostoma Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Diictodon feliceps
Dicynodon grossarthiBroili and Schröder, 1937Late PermianTropidostoma Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Diictodon feliceps
Dicynodon halliWatson, 1914Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon hartzenbergiBroom, 1940Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneIncertae sedis
Dicynodon haughtonianusvon Huene, 1931Middle PermianTapinocephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Diictodon feliceps
Dicynodon helenaeBoonstra, 1938Late PermianUpper Madumabisa MudstoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon howardiBroom, 1948Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Dicynodontoides recurvidens
Dicynodon hueneiHaughton, 1932Late PermianUpper Usili FormationValid as Daptocephalus huenei
Dicynodon huxleyanusvon Huene, 1940Late PermianCutties Hillock Sandstone FormationJunior synonym of Gordonia traquairi
Dicynodon ictidopsBroom, 1913Late PermianTropidostoma Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Diictodon feliceps
Dicynodon ictinopsBroom, 1921Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Emydops arctatus
Dicynodon incisivumRepelin, 1923Late Permian"Purple beds"Nomen dubium
Dicynodon ingensBroom, 1907Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneNomen dubium
Dicynodon joubertiBroom, 1905Middle PermianTapinocephalus Assemblage Zone or Pristerognathus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Diictodon feliceps
Dicynodon juddianusvon Huene, 1940Late PermianCutties Hillock Sandstone FormationJunior synonym of Gordonia traquairi
Dicynodon kitchingiBroom, 1937Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Dicynodon lacerticeps
Dicynodon kolbeiBroom, 1912Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon lacerticepsOwen, 1845Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage Zone or Dicynodon Assemblage ZoneValid
Dicynodon laticepsBroom, 1912Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Aulacephalodon bainii
Dicynodon latifronsBroom, 1899Middle TriassicCynognathus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Kannemeyeria simocephala
Dicynodon latirostrisOwen, 1860Early TriassicLystrosaurus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Lystrosaurus declivis
Dicynodon leonicepsOwen, 1876Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneValid as Daptocephalus leoniceps
Dicynodon leontocephalusBroom, 1950Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Daptocephalus leoniceps
Dicynodon leontopsBroom, 1913Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Daptocephalus leoniceps
Dicynodon leptorhinusBroom, 1932Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneNomen dubium
Dicynodon leptoscelusBroom, 1932Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneNomen dubium
Dicynodon limbusLucas, 1998Late PermianNaobaogou FormationValid as Daqingshanodon limbus
Dicynodon lissopsBroom, 1913Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Daptocephalus leoniceps
Dicynodon locusticepsvon Huene, 1942Late PermianUpper Usili FormationValid as Geikia locusticeps
Dicynodon luangwanensisBoonstra, 1938Late PermianUpper Usili FormationJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon luckhoffiBroom, 1937Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneNomen dubium
Dicynodon lutricepsBroom, 1912Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon maccabeiBroom, 1940Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon macrodonBroom, 1940Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Dinanomodon gilli
Dicynodon macrorhynchusBroom, 1921Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Diictodon feliceps
Dicynodon magnusBroom, 1913Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneValid as Rhachiocephalus magnus
Dicynodon marlothivon Huene, 1940Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon megalopsBroom, 1913Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon megalorhinusBroom, 1913Middle PermianTapinocephalus Assemblage ZoneNomen dubium
Dicynodon microdonBroom, 1936Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Basilodon woodwardi
Dicynodon microrhynchusvon Huene, 1931Late PermianTropidostoma Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Pristerodon mackayi
Dicynodon microtremaSeeley, 1889Late PermianTropidostoma Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Tropidostoma dubium
Dicynodon millettiBroom, 1928Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon moschopsBroom, 1913Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneValid as Pelanomodon moschops
Dicynodon moutonaeBroom, 1948Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon murrayiHuxley, 1859Early TriassicLystrosaurus Assemblage ZoneValid as Lystrosaurus murrayi
Dicynodon mustoiHaughton, 1915Late PermianTropidostoma Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon nanusBroom, 1936Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Diictodon feliceps
Dicynodon nesemanniBroom, 1940Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon njalilusvon Huene, 1942Middle TriassicManda BedsValid as Tetragonias njalilus
Dicynodon nowackivon Huene, 1942Late PermianUsili FormationValid as Dicynodontoides nowacki
Dicynodon orientalisHuxley, 1865Early TriassicPanchet FormationJunior synonym of Lystrosaurus murrayi
Dicynodon osborniBroom, 1921Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Daptocephalus leoniceps
Dicynodon oweniLydekker, 1889Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneNomen dubium
Dicynodon pachyrhynchusBroom, 1913Middle TriassicCynognathus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Kannemeyeria simocephala
Dicynodon parabrevicepsBoonstra, 1938Late PermianUpper Madumabisa MudstoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon pardicepsOwen, 1876Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Dicynodon lacerticeps
Dicynodon parvidensOwen, 1876Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Diictodon feliceps
Dicynodon planusBroom, 1913Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon platycepsBroom, 1913Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon platyfronsBroom, 1932Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon prognathusBroom, 1913Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon pseudojoubertiBoonstra, 1948Middle PermianTapinocephalus Assemblage ZoneNomen dubium
Dicynodon psittacopsBroom, 1912Late PermianTropidostoma Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Diictodon feliceps
Dicynodon pygmaeusBroom and Haughton, 1917Late PermianTropidostoma Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Pristerodon mackayi
Dicynodon ranicepsBroom, 1913Late PermianTropidostoma Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Pristerodon mackayi
Dicynodon rectidensOwen, 1876Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage Zone or Dicynodon Assemblage ZoneNomen dubium
Dicynodon recurvidensOwen, 1876Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneValid as Dicynodontoides recurvidens
Dicynodon richardiBroom, 1940Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon robertiBoonstra, 1938Late PermianUpper Madumabisa MudstoneJunior synonym of Syops vanhoepeni
Dicynodon robertsiBroom, 1948Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage Zone or Dicynodon Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon robustusBroom, 1932Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon rogersiBroom and Haughton, 1917Late PermianTropidostoma Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Tropidostoma dubium
Dicynodon rosmarusCope, 1870Late TriassicLockatong FormationNomen dubium
Dicynodon rossicusSushkin, 1926Late PermianUpper VyatkianJunior synonym of Vivaxosaurus trautscholdi
Dicynodon rubidgeiBroom, 1932Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Diictodon feliceps
Dicynodon scheepersiBroom, 1948Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Rhachiocephalus magnus
Dicynodon schroederiToerien, 1953Middle PermianTapinocephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Robertia broomiana
Dicynodon schwarziBroom, 1919Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon scopulusaLucas, 1998Late PermianQuanzijie FormationIncertae sedis
Dicynodon seeleyiBroili, 1908Early TriassicLystrosaurus Assemblage ZoneNomen dubium
Dicynodon sidneyiBroom, 1940Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Pelanomodon moschops
Dicynodon simocephalusWeithofer, 1888Middle TriassicCynognathus Assemblage ZoneValid as Kannemeyeria simocephala
Dicynodon sinkianensisYuan and Young, 1934Late PermianGuodikeng FormationValid as Jimusaria sinkianensis
Dicynodon sollasiBroom, 1921Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Diictodon feliceps
Dicynodon strigicepsOwen, 1845Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage Zone or Dicynodon Assemblage ZoneNomen dubium
Dicynodon strigopsBroom, 1913Early TriassicLystrosaurus Assemblage ZoneNomen dubium
Dicynodon sunanensisLi et al., 2000Late PermianGuodikeng FormationJunior synonym of Turfanodon bogdaensis
Dicynodon swierstraiBroom, 1940Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Pristerodon mackayi
Dicynodon taoshuyuanensisKing, 1988Late PermianGuodikeng FormationJunior synonym of Jimusaria sinkianensis
Dicynodon tayloriBroom, 1932Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Dicynodon lacerticeps
Dicynodon tealeiHaughton, 1932Late PermianUsili FormationNomen dubium
Dicynodon tenervon Huene, 1935Middle - Late TriassicSanta Maria FormationNomen dubium
Dicynodon testudicepsOwen, 1845Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage Zone or Dicynodon Assemblage ZoneNomen dubium
Dicynodon testudirostrisBroom and Haughton, 1913Late PermianTropidostoma Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Diictodon feliceps
Dicynodon tienshanensisSun, 1973Late PermianGuodikeng FormationJunior synonym of Diictodon feliceps
Dicynodon tigricepsOwen, 1855Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Aulacephalodon bainii
Dicynodon traquairivon Huene, 1940Late PermianCutties Hillock Sandstone FormationJunior synonym of Gordonia traquairi
Dicynodon trautscholdiAmalitzky, 1922Late PermianUpper VyatkianValid as Vivaxosaurus trautscholdi
Dicynodon trigonicepsBroom, 1913Late PermianTropidostoma Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Pristerodon mackayi
Dicynodon trigonocephalusBroom, 1940Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Dicynodon lacerticeps
Dicynodon truncatusBroom, 1913Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage Zone or Dicynodon Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon turpiorvon Huene, 1935Late TriassicSanta Maria FormationNomen dubium
Dicynodon tylorhinusBroom, 1913Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneIncertae sedis
Dicynodon validusBroom, 1935Late PermianTropidostoma Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Tropidostoma dubium
Dicynodon vanderbyliBroom, 1928Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon vanderhorstiToerien, 1953Middle PermianTapinocephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Diictodon feliceps
Dicynodon vanhoepeniBoonstra, 1938Late PermianUpper Madumabisa MudstoneValid as Syops vanhoepeni
Dicynodon venteriBroom, 1935Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneNomen dubium
Dicynodon venyukoviSushkin, 1926Late PermianUpper VyatkianJunior synonym of Vivaxosaurus trautscholdi
Dicynodon verticalisOwen, 1860Early TriassicLystrosaurus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Lystrosaurus murrayi
Dicynodon watsoniBroom, 1921Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Daptocephalus leoniceps
Dicynodon weatherbyiBroom, 1941Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Basilodon woodwardi
Dicynodon wellwoodensisBroom, 1936Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon whaitsiBroom, 1913Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneValid as Odontocyclops whaitsi
Dicynodon whitsonaeToerien, 1954Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Dinanomodon gilli
Dicynodon wilmanaeBroom, 1928Late PermianCistecephalus Assemblage ZoneJunior synonym of Oudenodon bainii
Dicynodon woodwardiBroom, 1921Late PermianDicynodon Assemblage ZoneValid as Basilodon woodwardi