Dicynodon

]] Over a hundred species of Dicynodon have been named and placed under Dicynodon since 1845, and the genus was for a long time treated as a wastebasket taxon. A study in 2011 revised every species referred to Dicynodon, and concluded that the only valid species were the type species D. lacerticeps and its close relative D. huenei. The remaining species were either dubious (nomina dubia), referrable to unrelated valid genera, or valid species but representing a paraphyletic grouping, or evolutionary grade, of Permian dicynodontoids (a subclade of dicynodonts that includes Dicynodon, Lystrosaurus, and other closely related Triassic dicynodonts). These species were elevated to their own…

of D. lacerticeps]] Dicynodon was a medium-sized and advanced member of the Dicynodont group. It had an average length of 1.2 m, although size differed among species. Its fossil remains have been found in sediments of latest Permian age in South Africa and Tanzania. The type species is Dicynodon lacerticeps Owen, 1845. A large number of species have since been placed in this genus, some of which turned out to be synonyms of other species, others have been moved to different genera.