Phthinosuchus

Taxobox
name = "Phthinosuchus"
fossil_range = Late Permian

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image_caption = "Phthinosuchus discors"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
subphylum = Vertebrata
superclassis = Tetrapoda
classis = Synapsida
ordo = Therapsida
subordo = Phthinosuchia
familia = Phthinosuchidae
genus = "Phthinosuchus"
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = "Phthinosuchus discors" "Phthinosaurus borissiaki"

"Phthinosuchus" was a therapsid that lived in Late Permian of Russia. "Phthinosuchus" is the sole member of its family and suborder, but "Pthinosaurus" may be a relative. Phthinosuchus is one of the most primitive therapsids, and its ancestors from the earlier part of Permian age branched off early from the therapsid line.

"Phthinosuchus" looked much like the Sphenacodontids, such as "Dimetrodon" and "Sphenacodon". Its temporal fenestrae is larger than that of the Sphenacodontids. "Phthinosuchus" and the other early therapsids were probably scaly skinned, sprawling, carnivorous synapsids.

ee also

* Evolution of mammals
* Timeline of human evolution
* Biarmosuchians
* Dinocephalians