Lumkuia

Lumkuia is an extinct genus of dicynodont therapsid from the Late Triassic period (Norian stage) of South Africa. It belongs to the family Kannemeyeriidae, a group of large-bodied, herbivorous dicynodonts. Lumkuia fossils have been discovered in the Burgersdorp Formation of the Karoo Supergroup. The genus is characterized by specific features of its skull, including the shape and arrangement of its teeth, snout, and the bony crests and ridges on its head. It is an important taxon for understanding the evolution and diversification of kannemeyeriiform dicynodonts during a crucial period in the Triassic, preceding the rise of the dinosaurs. The name Lumkuia refers to the locality where the fossils were discovered, the farm Lumku near Burgersdorp, South Africa.