Kunpania scopulusa was named by Sun (1978). Its type specimen is IVPP V4695, a partial skeleton (Snout, lower jaw, humerus), and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Gongbangou, which is in a Lopingian terrestrial horizon in the Quanzijie Formation of China. It is the type species of Kunpania.

It was recombined as Dicynodon scopulusa by Lucas (1998), Lucas (2001).