Tapinocaninus


Tapinocaninus is an extinct genus of therapsids in the family Tapinocephalidae, in which it is the most basal member. Only one species is known, Tapinocaninus pamelae.Living during the Middle Permian.

Description

It grew up to long, and massed up to. It is assumed to be either a herbivore or an omnivore. This dinocephalian has a heterodont dentition, consisting of incisors, canines and postcanines. It's 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 of the Karoo deposits, in the Lower Beaufort Beds in Beaufort West, by the director of the BPI, Professor Bruce Rubidge.Four specimen are known. A holotype and three paratypes. All of them are known from skull and mandible bones.