Moschops were heavy set dinocephalian synapsid, that were roughly 2.7 metres (8.9 ft) in length.
They had small heads with broad orbits and heavily-built short necks.
Like other members of Tapinocephalidae, the skull had a tiny opening for the pineal organ.
The occiput was broad and deep, but the skull was more narrow in the dorsal border.
Furthermore, the pterygoid arches and the angular region of the jaw with heavily-bult jaw muscles.
Due to that and the possession of long-crowned, stout teeth, it is believed that Moschops was a herbivore feeding on nutrient-poor and tough vegetation, like cycad stems.
Due to the presumably nutrient-poor food, it's likely they had to feed for a 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.
It has also been proposed that Moschops were possibly sub-aquatic.
Moschops had rather thick skulls, prompting speculation that individuals could've competed with one another by head-butting.
Some were likely preyed upon by the titanosuchids and the larger therocephalians.
Moschops were heavy set dinocephalian synapsid, that were roughly 2.7 metres (8.9 ft) in length. They had small heads with broad orbits and heavily-built short necks. Like other members of Tapinocephalidae, the skull had a tiny opening for the pineal organ. The occiput was broad and deep, but the skull was more narrow in the dorsal border. Furthermore, the pterygoid arches and the angular region of the jaw with heavily-bult jaw muscles. Due to that and the possession of long-crowned, stout teeth, it is believed that Moschops was a herbivore feeding on nutrient-poor and tough vegetation, like cycad stems. Due to the presumably nutrient-poor food, it's likely they had to feed for a 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. It has also been proposed that Moschops were possibly sub-aquatic. Moschops had rather thick skulls, prompting speculation that individuals could've competed with one another by head-butting. Some were likely preyed upon by the titanosuchids and the larger therocephalians.
Moschops