Probainognathidae

Taxobox
name = Probainognathidae
fossil_range = Triassic
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Synapsida
ordo = Therapsida
subordo = Cynodontia
unranked_familia = Eucynodontia
familia = Probainognathidae
familia_authority = Romer, 1973
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = "Probainognathus" "Lepagia"

Probainognathidae is an extinct family of meat-eating mammal-like reptiles (Therapsids) which lived during the Upper Triassic. According to some authors, it has perhaps two known members: "Probainognathus" from South America, and the somewhat later "Lepagia" from Europe. The family was established by Romer in 1973. Its members were closely related to the even more exotically named Chiniquodontidae.

Both genera were small animals. "Probainognathus", known from a number of specimens, was about 10 cm in length and extremely mammal-like in terms of its anatomy. Remains of "Lepagia" are restricted to teeth. These most closely resemble the dentition of other carnivorous cynodonts of the Upper Triassic.

References

* Much of this information has been derived from [http://home.arcor.de/ktdykes/cynoga.htm TRIASSIC CYNODONTS; Cynognathidae, Probainognathidae and 'Allies'] , an Internet directory.