In Depth Cynognathus seems to be one of the most successful of the cynodonts, with a large number of fossil remains from a wide geographic distribution being all attributed to the genus. There is however some controversy over whether all of these fossils should be labelled as Cynognathus, as the genus does seem to have … Read more
In Depth For lack of a better description, Castorocauda was basically like an otter or beaver that lived during the Jurassic. However, while Castorocauda superficially looks like them, the genus is in no way a direct relation to them, Instead, Castorocauda is what is known as a docodont mammaliform, and a member of a group … Read more
In Depth As far as cynodonts go Tritylodon was fairly unremarkable and very similar to the generic form of other cynodonts. Tritylodon had a round body and short limbs, adaptations for a burrowing lifestyle. Furthermore Tritylodon is noted for having enlarged incisor teeth which still would have been partly visible when the mouth was closed, … Read more
In Depth Dvinia is a genus of small cynodont that lived in Russia during the late Permian. Dvinia is known to have lived in the same habitats as Dicynodon and Scutosaurus as well as the large predator Inostrancevia. Further Reading - Diagnoses of the new forms of vertebrates and plants from the upper Permian of … Read more
In Depth Botucaraitherium is a genus of cynodont that lived in South America during the late Triassic. Further Reading - A new prozostrodontian cynodont (Therapsida) from the Late Triassic Riograndia Assemblage Zone (Santa Maria Supersequence) of Southern Brazil. - Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ci�ncias 86(4):1673-1691. - M. B. Soares, A. G. Martinelli & T. … Read more
In Depth Chiniquodon is a genus of cynodont that lived in South America during the Early Triassic. Most Chiniquodon fossils are Anisian to Ladinian in age, with a few associated with Carnian deposits. This has fuelled speculation that the disappearance of cynodonts like Chiniquodon coincides with the rise of early dinosaurs, and hence the cynodonts … Read more