Cistecephalus was one of the first dicynodont genera named, and it has had numerous species assigned to it, but only the type species is considered valid today. Most of these invalid species were incorrectly identified as distinct due to taphonomic differences as well as ontogenetic change and sexual dimorphism. The biology of
Cistecephalus has been interpreted in various ways, due to its rather unusual morphology. Both aquatic and arboreal lifestyles have been suggested, but since 1978, the consensus has been that it was fossorial. Some fossils of a cistecephalid from the
Kundaram Formation of India were regarded as belonging to
Cistecephalus, but have since been assigned to a separate genus,
Sauroscaptor.
Cistecephalus is derived from the Greek words
κίστη ("box") and
κεφαλή ("head"), and was spelled
Kistecephalus until emended by
Richard Lydekker in 1890. The name is a reference to the boxy shape of its skull.
Species Cistecephalus has had many species assigned to it, most of which are now considered junior synonyms of the type species. Richard Owen named six species when he erected the genus in 1876, of which
C. microrhinus is considered the type. •
Cistecephalus microrhinus is the type species of
Cistecephalus and the only species currently considered valid. •
Cistecephalus leptorhinus was one of the six original species of the genus. This species is a
nomen dubium which has long been assigned to
Dicynodon as well as being made the type species of its own genus,
Baiopsis. It is potentially a synonym of
Diictodon feliceps. •
Cistecephalus chelydroides was one of the six original species of the genus. •
Cistecephalus planiceps was one of the six original species of the genus. •
Cistecephalus arctatus was one of the six original species of the genus. It has been transferred to the genus
Emydops, and is one of the two valid species in that genus. •
Cistecephalus bathygnathus was one of the six original species of the genus. •
Cistecephalus angusticeps was named by
Robert Broom in 1932. It is a junior synonym of
C. microrhinus. •
Cistecephalus major was named by Robert Broom in 1948. It is a junior synonym of
C. microrhinus. •
Cistecephalus platyfrons was named by Robert Broom in 1948. It is a junior synonym of
C. microrhinus. •
Cistecephalus rubidgei was named by Robert Broom in 1948. It is a junior synonym of
C. microrhinus. •
Cistecephalus laticeps was named by A. S. Brink in 1950. ==Classification==