| Titanophoneus Temporal range: Middle Permian |
|
|---|---|
| Titanophoneus potens skeleton | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Synapsida |
| Order: | Therapsida |
| Suborder: | Dinocephalia |
| Family: | Brithopodidae/Anteosauridae |
| Genus: | Titanophoneus |
| Species: | T. potens |
| Binomial name | |
| Titanophoneus potens Efremov, 1938, |
|
Titanophoneus potens ("Potent titanic murderer") was a carnivorous Therapsid of the Dinocephalia group related to the Estemmenosuchidae, but living 5 million years later than Estemmenosuchus, during the Late Permian. Remains of this animal have been found at Isheevo in Russia
An adult skull would have reached 80 cm with a heavy long snout. The long tail and short limbs show the species to be a primitive therapsid unlike Inostrancevia who was more advanced. The structure of the limbs and the density of the bone are designed for a sprawling stance. The temporal opening is more advanced than Estemmenosuchidae but less advanced than Inostrancevia. Total length would be 2.85 meters.
The teeth are large with 12 large palate incisors followed by 2 canines and various smaller back teeth. The lower palate is the same as the upper but without the canine teeth. Titanophoneus ' appearance is reminiscent to the sphenacodontid pelycosaurs, which included Dimetrodon.
Contents |