Moschorhinus is an extinct genus of therocephalian in the family Akidnognathidae with only one species: M. kitchingi. It was a carnivorous synapsid which has been found in the Late Permian to Early Triassic of the South African Karoo Supergroup. It was a large carnivore, reaching 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in total body length with the largest skull comparable to that of a lion in size. It had a broad, blunt snout which bore long, straight canines. It appears to have replaced the gorgonopsids ecologically, and hunted much like a big cat. While most abundant in the Late Permian, it survived a little after the Permian Extinction, though these Triassic individuals had stunted growth.
The genus name Moschorhinus is derived from the Ancient Greek words μόσχος (mos'-khos) moschos for calf or young animal, and rhin/rhino- for nose or snout, in reference to its short, broad snout. The species name, kitchingi, refers to Mr. James Kitching, who originally found (but did not describe) the specimen.[1]
Kitching discovered the holotype specimen, a skull (best preserved, the palate), in the Karoo Supergroup in South Africa, near the village of Nieu-Bethesda. It was first described by paleontologist Robert Broom in 1920.[1] It is now one of the best known and most recognizable therapsids of the supergroup.[2]
Moschorhinus remains have been found most prominently in the Upper Permian to Lower Triassic Beaufort Group.[2][3][4]
Moschorhinus is a therocephalian, a member of the clade Eutheriodontia and the sister taxon to cynodonts and modern mammals. Moschorhinus is classified into the family Akidnognathidae, along with other large, carnivorous therapsids with strong skulls and large upper canines.[5]
Moschorhinus took over the niche once controlled by gorgonopsids. Both groups were built much like big cats. Following the extinction of Moschorhinus by the Triassic, cynodonts took over a similar niche.[5]