Procynosuchus

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Procynosuchus
Fossil range: Late Permian

Procynosuchus delaharpeae from the Late Permian of South Africa

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Synapsida
Order:	Therapsida
Suborder:	Cynodontia
Family:	Procynosuchidae
Genus:	Procynosuchus

Species

P. delahareae
P. rubidgei

Procynosuchus (Greek: "Before dog crocodile") was a cynodont, a group that was ancestral to mammals. Procynosuchus, specifically, belonged to a group of cynodonts called Procynosuchidae, one of the earliest cynodonts. It lived in the Late Permian world. Procynosuchus was unusual in that it was semi-aquatic, like seals or crocodiles of today, whereas most cynodonts, such as Cynognathus, were terrestrial. Procynosuchus swam by wiggling the front and rear ends of its stiff spine, just like a crocodile, and paddled with its webbed, otter-like hands and feet. Procynosuchus was probably a piscivore, or fish eater. It was 60 cm long (2 feet).