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Description
One of the Dinocephalians, or 'terrible-heads', Styracocephalus platyrhynchus (flat-snouted spike-head) lived in South Africa in the middle-Permian, about 266-260 million years ago. It was characterized by the pointy bones growing from the rear of the skull, and the wide cheek flanges. There was some variation in the skull decoration. The skull was about 40 cm/16" long, and the whole animal 1.8 m/6". It likely ate plants, despite its long, sharp canine teeth. It might have been amphibious, spending some time on land and also some time in the water.

Description
One of the Dinocephalians, or 'terrible-heads', Styracocephalus platyrhynchus (flat-snouted spike-head) lived in South Africa in the middle-Permian, about 266-260 million years ago. It was characterized by the pointy bones growing from the rear of the skull, and the wide cheek flanges. There was some variation in the skull decoration. The skull was about 40 cm/16" long, and the whole animal 1.8 m/6". It likely ate plants, despite its long, sharp canine teeth. It might have been amphibious, spending some time on land and also some time in the water.