Chiniquodon
Encyclopedia
Chiniquodon is a genus
of carnivorous
"mammal-like reptile", (Therapsid), which lived during the lower Upper Triassic
in South America
. These animals were up to the size of a dog. This genus seems to be most closely related to a contemporary genus, Probelesodon
. In various respects, the anatomy
is very mammal
-like, though not strongly enough to be viewed as a direct ancestor.
Other contemporaries included early dinosaur
s. As both groups filled a similar ecological niche
, this might explain the disappearance of fairly large hunters such as Chiniquodon.
Remarks: A dog-sized predator, with a skull-length of about 10 cm. This species may not have been formally published.
Chiniquodon sanjuanensis
This skull was reassigned to this genus in 2002. It's differentiated from Chiniquodon theotonicus because of its teeth and the shape of the zygomatic process.
Chiniquodon theotonicus
This species is known from a number of skulls. The holotype
is in the paleontological collection at Tübingen
University, Germany
.
Chiniquodon kalanoro
This species is known from a mandible
(holotype
UA 10607).
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of carnivorous
Carnivore
A carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of animal tissue, whether through predation or scavenging...
"mammal-like reptile", (Therapsid), which lived during the lower Upper Triassic
Triassic
The Triassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about 250 to 200 Mya . As the first period of the Mesozoic Era, the Triassic follows the Permian and is followed by the Jurassic. Both the start and end of the Triassic are marked by major extinction events...
in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. These animals were up to the size of a dog. This genus seems to be most closely related to a contemporary genus, Probelesodon
Probelesodon
Probelesodon is an extinct genus of chiniquodontid cynodont. Fossils have been found from Argentina and Brazil of Triassic age. Specimens were first discovered from the Chañares Formation in La Rioja Provence, Argentina that date back to the Anisian stage of the early Middle Triassic. A new...
. In various respects, the anatomy
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
is very mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
-like, though not strongly enough to be viewed as a direct ancestor.
Other contemporaries included early dinosaur
Dinosaur
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of...
s. As both groups filled a similar ecological niche
Ecological niche
In ecology, a niche is a term describing the relational position of a species or population in its ecosystem to each other; e.g. a dolphin could potentially be in another ecological niche from one that travels in a different pod if the members of these pods utilize significantly different food...
, this might explain the disappearance of fairly large hunters such as Chiniquodon.
Species
Chiniquodon brasilensis- Place: The Paleontological Site ChiniquáPaleontological Site ChiniquáPalaeontological Site Chiniquá is located in the Brazilian city of São Pedro do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul. That the margins of the highway BR-287, with an area of about 250 hectar. It is located at 70 kilometers from the city of Santa Maria. The site belongs to geopark of paleorrota...
, Santa Maria FormationSanta Maria FormationThe Santa Maria Formation is a sedimentary rock formation found in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It has a late Ladinian – early Carnian age , and is notable for its fossils of early dinosaurs, including the herrerasaur Staurikosaurus, the basal saurischian Teyuwasu, and the basal sauropodomorph... - Country: BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, in geoparkGeoparkA Geopark is defined by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in its UNESCO Geoparks International Network of Geoparks programme as follows:...
of paleorrotaPaleorrotaPaleorrota , is a geopark located in the center of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. The rocks and fossils found along the route date back to the times when there was only one supercontinent Pangaea....
. - Age: Carnian, Upper Triassic
Remarks: A dog-sized predator, with a skull-length of about 10 cm. This species may not have been formally published.
Chiniquodon sanjuanensis
- Place: Ischigualasto Formation
- Country: ArgentinaArgentinaArgentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
- Age: Carnian (Upper Triassic)
This skull was reassigned to this genus in 2002. It's differentiated from Chiniquodon theotonicus because of its teeth and the shape of the zygomatic process.
Chiniquodon theotonicus
- Place: Santa Maria Formation and Chañares FormationChañares FormationThe Chañares Formation in La Rioja Provence, Argentina, dates to the Anisian stage of the early Middle Triassic.Some localities are well known for their abundance of tetrapods. Theraspids include the kannemeyeriid Dinodontosaurus, and cynodonts such as Probainognathus and Massetognathus, the latter...
- Country: Brazil and Argentina
- Age: Carnian (Upper Triassic)
This species is known from a number of skulls. The holotype
Holotype
A holotype is a single physical example of an organism, known to have been used when the species was formally described. It is either the single such physical example or one of several such, but explicitly designated as the holotype...
is in the paleontological collection at Tübingen
Tübingen
Tübingen is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, on a ridge between the Neckar and Ammer rivers.-Geography:...
University, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Chiniquodon kalanoro
- Place: Makay Formation
- Country: MadagascarMadagascarThe Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
- Age: Ladinian/Carnian (Upper Triassic)
This species is known from a mandible
Mandible
The mandible pronunciation or inferior maxillary bone forms the lower jaw and holds the lower teeth in place...
(holotype
Holotype
A holotype is a single physical example of an organism, known to have been used when the species was formally described. It is either the single such physical example or one of several such, but explicitly designated as the holotype...
UA 10607).