Euchambersia

Taxobox
name = Euchambersia
fossil_range = Late Permian - Early Triassic


image_width = 235px
image_caption = "Euchambersia" and its prey, a dicynodont
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
subphylum = Vertebrata
classis = Synapsida
ordo = Therapsida
subordo = Therocephalia
genus = Euchambersia
genus_authority = Broom, 1931
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = "E. mirabilis" (type)

"Euchambersia" was a "mammal-like reptile" (order Therapsida) of the suborder Therocephalia that lived during the Late Permian epoch, approximately 250 million years ago, in what is now South Africa.

"Euchambersia" was a unique therocephalian. "Euchambersia" may have poison glands on its canine teeth. Unlike snakes, the teeth of "Euchambersia" were adapted to inject venom to kill its prey. A recess behind each canine tooth housed the venom gland, while grooves down the outer sides of the canine teeth delivered the venom into the puncture wound, together with powerful jaws this made it a very affective predator to hunt the herbivorious dicynodonts and pareiasaurs it encounterd. [cite web
title = Therapsid Hunters
url =http://www3.telus.net/therapsid/therapsid-hunters.htm
accessdate = 2007-03-03 ]

In Popular Culture

"Euchambersia" made an appearance in "Walking with Monsters". Here, identified as a therocephalian, it was seen hunting "Lystrosaurus" in packs while the herd passed through a canyon. It is depicted as being nocturnal and having venom more potent than that of a black mamba. The model used for the "Euchambersia" was the same model that was used for the cynodont that appeared in the first episode of "Walking with Dinosaurs"

References