The early anomodont Venjukovia and the evolution of the anomodont skull

The skull morphology and function of the anomodont mammal-like reptile Venjukovia is described and compared with that of Patranomodon, Eodicynodon, Galeops and Diictodon. Changes in osteology and functional anatomy of these forms are noted.
It is concluded that the acquisition of herbivorous adaptations in the anomodonts may have occurred in the following sequence: division of the external adductor muscles of the jaw into a medial and lateral component, propalinal jaw movement, increased Moment Arm of the external adductors by raising the level of the jaw hinge, anterior migration of the adductor insertions, reduction of the size and number of teeth and acquisition of a horn covering to the jaws, elaboration of the external adductors and reduction of the internal adductors (pterygoideus muscles), and elaboration of palatal areas for mastication of food.
The first (in the morphological sense) committed herbivorous anomodont is identified as the South African form, Galeops. As far as anomodonts are concerned, the major correlate of successful herbivorous feeding is the acquisition of propaliny.
A chronology of character acquisition in the anomodonts cannot yet be drawn up since the stratigraphic correlation of Russian and South African sequences is uncertain. However, it appears that the transition from a generalized carnivore to a committed herbivore took place very rapidly compared to the species longevity of anomodonts.