| Keratocephalus Temporal range: Permian |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Synapsida |
| Order: | Therapsida |
| Suborder: | Dinocephalia |
| Family: | Tapinocephalidae |
| Genus: | Keratocephalus moloch |
Keratocephalus is an extinct genus of Tapinocephalia from the middle Permian of South Africa. Lower and Middle Tapinocephalus Zone, Karoo deposits, Lower Beaufort Beds; Beaufort West. It has a 2.5 to 3 m long (skull 50 cm); 700 to 1000 kg; with a variable snout length; variable pachyostosis; nasofrontal boss raised into a horn-like shape. K. moloch is known from a number of greatly variable skulls, along with postcrania, from the Lower and Middle Tapinocephalus zone, shows considerable variability in the pachyostotic development. It may be not as derived as Tapinocephalus. The naso-frontal boss is raised into a sort of horn (hence the name - "horned head") and the length of the snout varies greatly. This in itself throws doubt on Boonstra's distinction between short and long-snouted forms. Pelosuchus, known only on the basis of postcranial features, is a synonym. ATW020525 MAK020416.