page_title: Odontocyclops
section_title: Skull
hierarchical_section_title: Odontocyclops / Description / Skull
caption_attribution_description: Odontocyclops (formerly Dicynodon whaitsi) and Diictodon galeops (small, below) skulls, specimens 5566 and 5308.
context_page_description: Odontocyclops: Greek: ondont-“tooth” Greek: kyklops- “round eye”, a kind of Greek mythological giant with one eye in the midline” =toothy cyclops.
  The Odontocyclops is an extinct genus of Dicynodonts that lived in the Late Permian. Dicynodonts are believed to be the first major assemblage of terrestrial herbivores.
  Fossils of Odontocyclops have been found in the Karoo Basin of South Arfrica and the Luangwa Valley of Zambia. The phylogenetic classification of Odontocyclops has been long under debate, but most current research places them as their own genus of Dicynodonts and being very closely related to Rhachiocephalus and Oudenodon.
context_section_description: The skull of Odontocyclops are large compared to other dicynodonts, measuring 60 cm and greater. Large canine tusks are found in some of the specimens, but not others. However, the presence of tusks appears to be variable and not correlated with size. Consequently, it is reasoned that the presence of tusks is not a sexual dimorphism for this genus. The overall shape of the skull is very similar to that of Rhachiocepalus. In dorsal view the snout is notably concave and is formed by large nasal bosses that project medially over the snout. The bone that forms these nasal bosses is covered with numerous fine pits, suggesting the presence of a keratin covering. Additionally, all known specimens lack premaxillary teeth. This combined with other evidence points towards Odontocyclops possessing a keratinous beak. Lastly, the vomers of Odontocyclops are fused and they do possess a secondary palate that is relatively flat compared to other dicynodonts and contains low walls.
caption: Odontocyclops skull
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