Styracocephalus platyrhynchus (Greek for "spiked-head") is an extinct genus of dinocephalian therapsid that existed during the mid-Permian throughout South Africa, but mainly in the Karoo Basin.

[3] The presence of enlarged canines, pachyostotic cranial boss, and horns are all plesiomorphic traits found in Dinocephalia.

[4] The first Styracocephalus fossil was discovered by Lieuwe Dirk Boonstra in 1928 from a Tapinocephalus bed on a farm called Boesmans Rivier, in the Beaufort West Division.

[1] The original skeleton was crushed, but still showed some unique features such as outward projecting tabular horns, a shallow snout, and a small temporal opening.

[4] Most of the basicranial elements on known specimens of Strycacocephalus are poorly preserved; however, some portions such as the stapes are uniquely distinguishable and appear as small dumbbell-shaped bones that contact the fenestra and quadrate.

The enamel on the heel of the dentition for many tapinocephalid specimens has signs of reduced deposition indicating the grinding action of consuming plant material.

Based on dinocephalian dentition, the presence of a large, heavy cranium and a poorly attached fragile mandible makes it difficult for this species to consume tough vegetation on dry ground.

[2] The majority of dinocephalian fossils such as that of Styracocephalus are found in the Tapinocephalus Assemblage Zone of the South African Karoo.

This also supports that Therapsida were found on a global scale from as early as the Guadalupian including Eastern Europe and South America.

[8] According to research conducted on the Karoo Basin in South Africa, Styracocephalus likely preferred warmer climate conditions with fluctuating precipitation.

The basin was formed during Pangea time and survived through the breaking up of the continent, which likely contributes to the thorough global presence of Dinocephalia.

Consistent with assumptions made by Boonstra on characteristics of Dinocephalia, it can be inferred that Styracocephalus spent a fair amount of time in shallow ponds and marshlands.

The two reduced modern dinocephalian family subclade classifications are Anteosauria and Tapinocephalia, with Styracocephalidae and sister taxa Estemmenosuchidae classifying as tapinocephalids.

[1][11] Dimetrodon Estemmenosuchus Styracocephalus Jonkeria Ulemosaurus Moschops Gorgonopsia Anomodontia Biarmosuchus Hipposaurus Herpetoskylax Lemurosaurus Proburnetia Burnetia