Struthiocephalus ("Ostrich Head") is an extinct genus of dinocephalian therapsids from the Permian of South Africa. It was a large animal, reaching 288 kg (635 lb) in body mass.[1]
This animal has the largest head of any tapinocephalid. Brink (1956) suggests that Struthiocephalus fed in or near water, the teeth being used for rooting up, gathering and grasping plant matter.[2] Boonstra (1965) likewise considered that Struthiocephalus fed on soft vegetation, possibly under water. He suggested the postcranial skeleton possibly showed adaptations to living in marshy conditions, and the bone surface around the nostril might indicate the presence of a fleshy valve present used for closing off the nostril under water.[3]
The long-snouted Struthiocephalus whaitsi would seem to be the only genus and species of this taxon. There are a large number of synonyms.
Struthiocephalellus is apparently a juvenile of Struthiocephalus. Boonstra showed that the seven named species of Struthiocephalus represent a growth series and are hence synonyms of the first described species, S. whaitsi.
Struthiocephalus is characterized simply by a naso-frontal boss in mature specimens, whilst the very similar genus Struthiocephaloides lacks this character. This is consistent with a sexually dimorphic character, as well as a role in intraspecific combat. Barghusen (1975) considers would be more effective in flank butting than head-butting per se. In head-on combat the presumed horn would be deflected by the opponent's head and contact would be lost, but in flank butting a horned boss would concentrate the blow. Both Struthiocephalus and Struthiocephaloides have the same stratigraphic range - Lower to Middle Tapinocephalus Zone.[4]
Of the remaining two monospecific genera, Struthionops intermedius known from a single skull, possesses a naso-frontal boss moderate pachyostosis and a fairly short snout. Possibly this is a variant of another species. On the basis of the shorter snout, King (1988) includes this species among the Tapinocephalini.[5]