casea

Casea is a genus of extinct synapsids in the family Caseidae, known from Early Permian deposits in North America. It is the name-bearing genus of its family and includes several species, with Casea ambigua serving as the type species. Fossil material indicates a small-headed animal with an elongated, barrel-shaped torso and a relatively sturdy, short-limbed skeleton.

Anatomically, Casea shares the characteristic caseid pattern of a large ribcage and a compact skull. Dentition tends to be simple, with teeth adapted to processing plant material, consistent with a herbivorous or omnivorous diet. The limbs suggest a terrestrial lifestyle, and the gait was likely sprawling or semi-erect.

Ecology and significance: Casea and other caseids are among the earliest large-bodied amniotes to display herbivorous adaptations. Their existence demonstrates an early diversification of plant-eating strategies among synapsids and provides context for the evolution of later, more derived caseids. As the type genus of Caseidae, Casea helps define the defining features and evolutionary trajectory of the group, which would later include several more specialized genera.

See also: Caseidae, Cotylorhynchus, Ennatosaurus.

Note: Casea is primarily known from North American Permian strata, and its precise species composition has varied in paleontological literature as new fossils have been described and classifications revised.