Keratocephalus moloch

Keratocephalus was a moderately sized (3 m) Tapinocephalian therapsid that lived during the middle Permian Period; its remains were discovered in the town of Beaufort West, South Africa. Keratocephalus is characterized by a horn on the head between the eyes; it had a large skull that was 50 cm in length.

Name

Keratocephalus moloch

Authority

von Huene, 1931

Meaning of generic name

Horned head

Size

Skull length: , Length: 2.5-3 m

Remains

Several skulls and postcranial remains.

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Lower and Middle Tapinocephalus assemblage zone, Lower Beaufort beds, Middle Permian (Capitanian).

Type locality: Beaufort West, Karoo basin, South Africa.

Classification

Synapsida Therapsida Dinocephalia Tapinocephalia Tapinocephalidae

Further Reading

Huene, F. von., 1931. Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Fauna der südafrikanischen Karrooformation: Geologische und Palaeontologische Abhandlungen, v. 18, p. 159-227.

Synonyms

Pelosuchus priscus Broom, 1905

Image by Nobu Tamura (click to enlarge)

Keratocephalus moloch: