Titanophoneus
Extinct genus of therapsids From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Titanophoneus ("titanic murderer") is an extinct genus of carnivorous dinocephalian therapsid from the Middle Permian. It is classified within the family Anteosauridae. The type species is Titanophoneus potens.[1] Remains of Titanophoneus have been found at Isheevo, Russia.
| Titanophoneus | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Mounted skeleton of Titanophoneus potens | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Synapsida |
| Clade: | Therapsida |
| Suborder: | †Dinocephalia |
| Family: | †Anteosauridae |
| Subfamily: | †Anteosaurinae |
| Genus: | †Titanophoneus Efremov, 1938 |
| Type species | |
| †Titanophoneus potens Efremov, 1938 | |
| Species | |
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| Synonyms | |
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Description
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, which 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.
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. The appearance of Titanophoneus is reminiscent to the sphenacodontid pelycosaurs, which included Dimetrodon.
Gallery
Reconstruction of a T. potens feasting on a Ulemosaurus
Reconstruction of a pair of T. potens
Fossil skeleton of a juvenile individual.
Reconstruction of T. adamanteus
Two specimens of T. potens compared to a human
See also
References
External links
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