![]() Pampaphoneus biccai is the only known species in Brazil. While well-known in South Africa and Russia, these animals are rare in other parts of the world. Dinocephalians had thick cranial bones, which led to the group's name which translates to "terrible head" in Greek. They were medium to large-sized creatures with both carnivorous and herbivorous representatives. ![]() Pampaphoneus, which belongs to the early therapsid clade called dinocephalians, lived just before the largest extinction event in the history of Earth that eliminated 86% of all animal species worldwide.īefore the extinction event, dinocephalians were one of the major groups of large terrestrial animals that thrived on land. ![]() The stunning fossil includes a complete skull and some skeletal bones, such as ribs and arm bones. In a new study published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, an international team of researchers reveal the astounding discovery of a 265-million-year-old, exquisitely preserved fossil species, Pampaphoneus biccai, found in the rural area of São Gabriel, Southern Brazil. Yet, 40 million years before dinosaurs ruled, Pampaphoneus biccai dominated South America as the biggest and most bloodthirsty meat eater of its time. view moreĬredit: Original artwork by Márcio Castroĭinosaurs have quite the reputation for being the largest, fiercest predators in life’s history. ![]() Image: Artistic reconstruction of Pampaphoneus biccai. ![]()
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