Procynosuchidae

Taxobox
name = Procynosuchidae
fossil_range = Late Permian

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image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Procynosuchus delaharpeae" from the Late Permian of South Africa
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Synapsida
ordo = Therapsida
subordo = Cynodontia
familia = Procynosuchidae
familia_authority = Broom, 1938
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = "Nanocynodon" "Parathrinaxodon" "Procynosuchus"

Procynosuchidae, along with Dviniidae, were the earliest cynodonts. 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.

Procynosuchid eyes are 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 went extinct at the Permian-Triassic extinction event. Some procynosuchids were terrestrial, but others like "Procynosuchus" were semi-aquatic.