- Procynosuchidae
Taxobox
name = Procynosuchidae
fossil_range = LatePermian
image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Procynosuchus delaharpeae" from the Late Permian of South Africa
regnum =Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis =Synapsid a
ordo =Therapsida
subordo =Cynodontia
familia = Procynosuchidae
familia_authority = Broom, 1938
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = "Nanocynodon " "Parathrinaxodon " "Procynosuchus "Procynosuchidae, along with
Dviniidae , were the earliestcynodonts . They appeared around 260 million years ago, and were most abundant during the latestPermian time (251 mya), shortly before thePermian-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 theTherocephalia ns.Procynosuchid eyes are forward-facing, and the
dentary was larger than the Therocephalians. The Procynosuchids had asecondary palate , which allows them to eat food while breathing, just like mammals. The Procynosuchids went extinct at thePermian-Triassic extinction event . Some procynosuchids were terrestrial, but others like "Procynosuchus " were semi-aquatic.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.