Among the most fascinating finds in the Karoo Basin of southern Africa are the word-renowned fossils of therapsids, a group of synapsids that played a key role in the evolution of mammals. Therapsids were among the dominant land animals during the Permian and Triassic periods, with a wide range of body shapes and sizes. They are characterized by their mammal-like features, such as a specialized jaw joint and a more efficient respiratory system. 
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The Karoo Basin has yielded some of the most complete and well-preserved fossils of therapsids, including several genera that are unique to the region. These fossils have helped scientists to reconstruct the anatomy, behavior, and ecology of these fascinating animals, shedding light on their evolutionary history and the factors that contributed to their eventual decline and rise of the Dinosaurs. The therapsid fossils of southern Africa attract huge interest from researchers from southern Africa and globally and have a long, rich history of study.