Wrassonyx

Wrassonyx is a genus of extinct therocephalian therapsids that lived during the Late Permian epoch. These animals were part of the group that eventually led to the evolution of mammals. Wrassonyx fossils have been found in South Africa, specifically within the Karoo Basin. The genus contains a single described species, Wrassonyx initio, which was named in 2018.

Wrassonyx is characterized by a number of distinct anatomical features. It possessed a relatively small skull compared to other therocephalians, with a short snout. Its teeth were heterodont, meaning they varied in shape and function, indicating a potentially omnivorous diet. Key diagnostic features include the structure of its palate and the presence of a distinct crest on the jugal bone.

As a therocephalian, Wrassonyx represents an important piece of the evolutionary puzzle connecting reptiles to mammals. Therocephalians were a diverse group, and Wrassonyx, with its unique adaptations, helps to illuminate the variations within this lineage. Studying Wrassonyx provides insights into the paleobiology and evolutionary trajectory of therapsids during a critical period in Earth's history, just before the Permian-Triassic extinction event.