Dicynodonts

Dicynodonts are a diverse group of herbivorous therapsids, belonging to the clade Dicynodontia within the larger Therapsida. They are best known for their beaked mouths and two large tusk-like canines in the upper jaw. Most species lacked teeth in the lower jaw, and the skulls were often robust and compact, suited to processing tough vegetation.

Ecology and feeding: Dicynodonts occupied a variety of Permian to Triassic habitats, from floodplains to deserts. Their distinctive beaks and reduced tooth rows indicate herbivory, with tusks likely used for defense, intraspecific display, or cropping vegetation. Body shapes ranged from small, lizard-like forms to barrel-chested, relatively large species.

Temporal range and distribution: They first appeared in the Middle Permian and became one of the most successful groups of terrestrial herbivores in the Permian. They persisted into the Triassic, with several lineages surviving the Permian–Triassic extinction event before eventually declining and going extinct by the Late Triassic. Fossils have been found across Pangea, with particularly abundant material from the Karoo Basin of South Africa and from formations in Russia and China.

Taxonomy and significance: Dicynodontia is the principal subgroup of Anomodontia within Therapsida. Notable genera include Lystrosaurus, Kannemeyeria, and Dicynodon. Their long, varied fossil record provides important information about Permian ecosystems, the Permian–Triassic transition, and the early evolution of herbivory among therapsids.