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Description
I started this work for the Synapsid Week (the last week of June) on Twitter, but, unfortunately, due to the exams, I did not have time to finish it on time. Now she's here Here, the female tapinocephalid Struthiocephalus whaitsi lays eggs. Reproduction of non-mammalian synapsids rarely becomes a topic of paleoart, so I decided to depict this scene.

Struthiocephalus is a tapinocephalid from the Middle Permian (Tapinocephalus zone) of South Africa, described by Houghton in 1915 and allocated to its own subfamily. In general, it is very similar to its relatives: a massive elongated body on short and powerful limbs. The differences are mainly in the skull, the length of which can reach 70 cm. Struthiocephalus is characterized by an elongated and flattened muzzle, from which the name ("ostrich head") came. Otherwise, the skull is typical of the family, with strongly developed thickenings (pachyostosis) in the frontal region, forming a blunt protrusion, and behind the eye socket. Teeth are also typical for tapinocephalid. Over time, several species were described, except for the type: S. milleri, S. rheederi, S. akraalensis and S. kitchingi. They lived at the same time and differed only in the size and features of the structure of the skull, so they are simply individuals of S. whaitsi. In addition, the taxa Struthiocephalellus and Moschosaurus longiceps were distinguished, characterized by weak pachyostosis and small size. Currently, they are considered young Struthiocephalus, since the development of cranial thickenings in dinocephalians correlates with adulthood.

Reproduction of non-mammalian synapsids is one of the "white spots" of paleontology. Most likely, these animals laid eggs, because the most primitive today's mammals, monotremes, reproduce with eggs. Nevertheless, we are almost unknown to the egg clutches of protomammals. There is a possibility that some forms have mastered reptile-like live birth, which could precede the true live birth in mammals. Anyway, I chose the laying eggs option. The skin textures are inspired by the rhinoceros. In general, it turned out quite well, but so far I am not very strong in the image of sandy soil.

Black ballpoint pen, gray and black colored pencils, 2021.

Description
I started this work for the Synapsid Week (the last week of June) on Twitter, but, unfortunately, due to the exams, I did not have time to finish it on time. Now she's here Here, the female tapinocephalid Struthiocephalus whaitsi lays eggs. Reproduction of non-mammalian synapsids rarely becomes a topic of paleoart, so I decided to depict this scene.

Struthiocephalus is a tapinocephalid from the Middle Permian (Tapinocephalus zone) of South Africa, described by Houghton in 1915 and allocated to its own subfamily. In general, it is very similar to its relatives: a massive elongated body on short and powerful limbs. The differences are mainly in the skull, the length of which can reach 70 cm. Struthiocephalus is characterized by an elongated and flattened muzzle, from which the name ("ostrich head") came. Otherwise, the skull is typical of the family, with strongly developed thickenings (pachyostosis) in the frontal region, forming a blunt protrusion, and behind the eye socket. Teeth are also typical for tapinocephalid. Over time, several species were described, except for the type: S. milleri, S. rheederi, S. akraalensis and S. kitchingi. They lived at the same time and differed only in the size and features of the structure of the skull, so they are simply individuals of S. whaitsi. In addition, the taxa Struthiocephalellus and Moschosaurus longiceps were distinguished, characterized by weak pachyostosis and small size. Currently, they are considered young Struthiocephalus, since the development of cranial thickenings in dinocephalians correlates with adulthood.

Reproduction of non-mammalian synapsids is one of the "white spots" of paleontology. Most likely, these animals laid eggs, because the most primitive today's mammals, monotremes, reproduce with eggs. Nevertheless, we are almost unknown to the egg clutches of protomammals. There is a possibility that some forms have mastered reptile-like live birth, which could precede the true live birth in mammals. Anyway, I chose the laying eggs option. The skin textures are inspired by the rhinoceros. In general, it turned out quite well, but so far I am not very strong in the image of sandy soil.

Black ballpoint pen, gray and black colored pencils, 2021.