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Kwazulusaurus

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Kwazulusaurus
Temporal range: Late Permian
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Synapsida
Clade: Therapsida
Suborder: Anomodontia
Clade: Dicynodontia
Family: Lystrosauridae
Genus: Kwazulusaurus
Maisch, 2002
Type species
K. shakai
Maisch, 2002

Kwazulusaurus is an extinct genus of dicynodont therapsid from the Late Permian of South Africa. The type species K. shakai was described from the Dicynodon Assemblage Zone of the Beaufort Group in 2002. It has many similarities with the well-known dicynodont Lystrosaurus, and has been placed in the same family, Lystrosauridae. Kwazulusaurus appears to be transitional between early dicynodonts and the more derived Lystrosaurus; it has the wide skull roof of earlier dicynodonts, and a shortened snout like that of Lystrosaurus.[1]

References

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  1. ^ Maisch, M.W. (2002). "A new basal lystrosaurid dicynodont from the Upper Permian of South Africa". Palaeontology. 45 (2): 343–359. Bibcode:2002Palgy..45..343M. doi:10.1111/1475-4983.00240.