Probainognathus

Taxobox
name = "Probainognathus"
fossil_range = Triassic
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Synapsida
ordo = Therapsida
subordo = Cynodontia
familia = Probainognathidae
genus = "Probainognathus"
species = "P. jenseni"
binomial = "Probainognathus jenseni"
binomial_authority = Romer, 1970

Probainognathus is a genus of meat-eating mammal-like reptile (Therapsids) that lived during the lower Upper Triassic of South America. This creature had an incipient squamosal-dentary jaw-cranium joint, which is a clearly mammalian anatomical feature. It was at the very least closely related to the family of Chiniquodontidae, in which some authors have included it. Some broadly similar teeth from Europe were described under the name of "Lepagia".

Known from about three dozen specimens, this creature was only about 10 cm long. Two skulls, including the holotype, were stolen from the University of La Rioja, Argentina, in February 1994. A pair of "Probelesodon" holotypes, ("P. lewisi" and "P. minor"), accompanied them.

References

* Romer (1970): "The Chanares (Argentina) Triassic reptile fauna. VI. A cynodont with an incipient squamosal-dentary articulation". "Breviora" 344, p.1-18.
* Much of this information has been derived from [http://home.arcor.de/ktdykes/cynoga.htm] TRIASSIC CYNODONTS: Cynognathidae, Probainognathidae and "Allies", an Internet directory.