gorgonopsids

Gorgonopsids were a group of predatory therapsids that lived during the Late Permian epoch. They are classified within the order Gorgonopsia. These animals are characterized by their large size, robust build, and prominent saber-like canine teeth, which were likely used for hunting large prey. Gorgonopsids were the apex predators of their ecosystems, occupying a similar ecological niche to modern large carnivores like lions or tigers.

Fossils of gorgonopsids have been found in various parts of the world, primarily in Africa and Russia, indicating a wide distribution during their time. Their skulls were typically large and heavily built, with strong jaw muscles. The distinctive canine teeth could be exceptionally long, sometimes exceeding 10 centimeters. Other teeth in the jaw were smaller and sharper, suitable for tearing flesh. Their limbs were robust, and they likely walked with a sprawling or semi-erect posture.

The exact appearance of gorgonopsids is subject to interpretation due to incomplete fossil records, but it is generally believed they had a reptilian or mammalian-like appearance, with some evidence suggesting they might have had fur or scaly skin. Their extinction occurred at the end of the Permian period, as part of the Permian-Triassic extinction event, the most severe extinction event in Earth's history. This event wiped out the majority of life on the planet, including the gorgonopsids, paving the way for the rise of new dominant groups, such as the dinosaurs in the Mesozoic Era.