Titanophoneus
Encyclopedia
Titanophoneus potens 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
.
Dinocephalia
Dinocephalia are a clade of large early therapsids that flourished during the Middle Permian, but became extinct leaving no descendants.-Description:...
group related to the Estemmenosuchidae
Estemmenosuchidae
Estemmenosuchidae are a family of large, very early herbivorous mammal-like reptiles that flourished during the Middle Permian period. They are distinguished by horn-like structures, probably for display or agonistic behavior. Apart from the best known genus, Estemmenosuchus, the group is poorly...
, but living 5 million years later than Estemmenosuchus
Estemmenosuchus
Estemmenosuchus is a genus of large, early omnivorous therapsid that lived during the middle part of the Middle Permian period. It was among the largest animals of its day, and is characterised by distinctive horn-like structures, probably for intra-specific display...
, 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
Inostrancevia
Inostrancevia is a genus of gorgonopsid therapsid found in Sokolki, on the Smaller Northern Dvina River near Kotlas in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. The animal lived 251 million years ago during the Late Permian. The species I...
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
Dimetrodon
Dimetrodon was a predatory synapsid genus that flourished during the Permian period, living between 280–265 million years ago ....
.