| Moschops | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Mounted skeleton | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Synapsida |
| Clade: | Therapsida |
| Suborder: | †Dinocephalia |
| Family: | †Tapinocephalidae |
| Subtribe: | †Moschopina |
| Genus: | †Moschops Broom, 1911 |
| Type species | |
| †Moschops capensis Broom, 1911 | |
| Species | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Moschops (Greek for "calf face") is anextinctgenus oftherapsids that lived in theGuadalupianepoch, around 265–260 million years ago. They were heavily built plant eaters, and they may have lived partly in water, ashippopotamuses do. They had short, thick heads and might have competed by head-butting each other. Their elbow joints allowed them to walk with a moremammal-like gait rather than crawling. Their remains were found in theKaroo region ofSouth Africa, belonging to theTapinocephalus Assemblage Zone. Therapsids, such asMoschops, aresynapsids, the dominantland animals in thePermian period, which ended 252 million years ago.
Moschops were heavy setdinocephaliansynapsids, measuring 2.7 metres (8.9 ft) in length,[1] and weighing 129 kg (284 lb) on average and 327.4 kg (722 lb) in maximum body mass.[2] They had small heads with broadorbits and heavily built short necks. Like other members ofTapinocephalidae, the skull had a tiny opening for thepineal organ.[3] Approximately 42% of the volume of theendocast ofMoschops consisted of non-neural tissue.[4] Theocciput was broad and deep, but the skull was more narrow in the dorsal border. Furthermore, thepterygoid arches and the angular region of the jaw with heavily built jaw muscles. Due to that and the possession of long-crowned, stout teeth, it is believed thatMoschops was a herbivore feeding on nutrient-poor and tough vegetation, likecycad stems. Due to the presumably nutrient-poor food, it is likely they had to feed for long periods of time. The anatomy of the taxa allowed them to open the elbow joints more widely, enabling them to move in a more mammal-like posture than some other animals at the time. This helped to carry their massive bodies more easily while feeding, as well as allowing them short bursts of speed.[1][5] It has also been proposed thatMoschops were possibly sub-aquatic.[1]Moschops had rather thick skulls, prompting speculation that individuals could have competed with one another byhead-butting.[6] A 2017 published study would later confirm this bysynchrotron scanning aMoschops capensis skull, which revealed numerous anatomical adaptations to the central nervous system for combative behaviour.[2] They were likely preyed upon bytitanosuchids and largertherocephalian species.[5]
Moschops material was first discovered in theEcca Group (part of theKaroo Supergroup) ofSouth Africa byRobert Broom. As the geological horizon was dubious, it was referred to have originated from the Ecca Group on the basis ofPareiasaurus remains in near proximity. The discovered material includes aholotype (AMNH 5550) and seventopotypes (AMNH 5551-5557). The degree ofpachyostosis varies within the skulls of the specimens, and Broom believed this to have been linked to variations in gender and age. In 1910, the material was sent to theAmerican Museum of Natural History inNew York City and described in 1911.[1]
Moschops is characterized by a stronglypachyostosed skull with a broad intertemporal region and greatly reducedtemporal fossae. Two species are known from the fossil record,M. capensis andM. koupensis. Two other species were assigned (M. whaitsi andM. oweni), but their validity is considered possibly dubious.[citation needed] Genera regarded as synonyms areMoschoides,Agnosaurus,Moschognathus andPnigalion.Delphinognathus conocephalus could represent juvenileMoschops, thus possibly synonymous.Delphinognathus is only known from a single, moderately pachyostosed skull.[citation needed] It has a conical boss on the parietal surrounding the pineal foramen.[7]
The osteohistology ofMoschops is characterised by a very well developed medullary spongiosa and a thick layer ofcortical bone, suggesting thatMoschops had asemi-aquatic lifestyle.[8]
