Procynosuchidae

Procynosuchidae

Procynosuchidae

Extinct family of cynodonts

Procynosuchidae is an extinct family of therapsids which, along with Dviniidae, were the earliest cynodonts.[1] They appeared around 260 million years ago, and were most abundant during the latest Permian time (251 mya), shortly before the Permian-Triassic extinction event. Despite being the basal member of the cynodont clade, they already showed some of the advanced mammalian characteristics, but procynosuchids bore resemblance to the therocephalians.

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Procynosuchid eyes were forward-facing, and the dentary was larger than the therocephalians. The procynosuchids had a secondary palate, which allows them to eat food while breathing, just like mammals. The procynosuchids became extinct at the Permian-Triassic extinction event. Some procynosuchids were terrestrial, but others like Procynosuchus were semi-aquatic.

References

  1. [1]
    Mendrez, Christiane Helene (1972). "ON CYRBASIODON BOYCEI, BROOM 1931, (CYNODONTIA PROCYNOSUCHIDAE), FROM SOUTH AFRICA". Palaeontologia africana. ISSN 0078-8554.


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