Sinophoneus

Sinophoneus is an extinct genus of dinocephalian therapsid in the family Anteosauridae. A single fossilized skull (GMV 1601) has been found from the Middle Permian Xidagou Formation of China.

Description
Sinophoneus is characterized by a wide snout and by a ridge that runs along the midline of the skull between the eye sockets. The anteosaur Stenocybus acidentatus has also been named from the Xidagou Formation on the basis of a skull (IGCAGS V 361) and fragmentary jaw bones, but likely represents a juvenile form of Sinophoneus. Juvenile features include its smaller size, larger eye sockets and taller skull. Both GMV 1601 and IGCAGS V 361 have large rounded snouts, distinguishing them from most other anteosaurs and suggesting that they are closely related.