Titanophoneus

Taxobox
name = "Titanophoneus"
fossil_range = Middle Permian

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image_width = 250px
image_caption = life restoration of "Titanophoneus potens"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
subphylum = Vertebrata
superclassis = Tetrapoda
classis = Synapsida
ordo = Therapsida
subordo = Dinocephalia
familia = Brithopodidae/Anteosauridae
genus = "Titanophoneus"
species = "T. potens"
binomial = "Titanophoneus potens"
binomial_authority = Efremov, 1938,

"Titanophoneus potens" ("Potent titanic murderer") was a carnivorous Therapsid of the Dinocephalia group related to the Estemmenosuchidae but living 5 million years later than Estemmenosuchus uralensis and Estemmenosuchus mirabilis during the Late Permian. Remains of this animal have been found at Isheevo in Russia

An adult skull would have reached 80 cm with a heavy long snout. The long tail and short limbs show the species to be a primitive therapsid unlike "Inostrancevia" who was more advanced. The structure of the limbs and the density of the bone are designed for a sprawling stance. The temporal opening is more advanced than Estemmenosuchidae but less advanced than "Inostrancevia". Total length would be 2.85 meters.

The teeth are large with 12 large palate incisors followed by 2 canines and various smaller back teeth. The lower palate is the same as the upper but without the canine teeth. "Titanophoneus" ' appearance is reminiscent to the sphenacodontid pelycosaurs, which included "Dimetrodon".

Gallery

References

*cite book|first=Patricia |last=Vickers-Rich|coauthors =Thomas H. Rich|title=The Great Russian Dinosaurs|publisher=Guntar Graphics|year=1993|page=p. 36

External links

* [http://www.kheper.net/evolution/therapsida/Brithopodidae.html Information]
* [http://www.kheper.net/evolution/therapsida/Dinocephalia.htm Dinocephalians]
* [http://www.fmnh.helsinki.fi/users/haaramo/Metazoa/Deuterostoma/Chordata/Synapsida/Dinocephalia/Anteosauria.htm Taxonomy]