Procynosuchus
Procynosuchus | |
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P. delaharpeae at the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo, Japan | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Clade: | Synapsida |
Clade: | Therapsida |
Clade: | Cynodontia |
Family: | †Procynosuchidae |
Genus: | †Procynosuchus Broom, 1937 |
Species | |
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Synonyms | |
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Procynosuchus (Greek: "Before dog crocodile") is an extinct genus of cynodonts from the Late Permian. It is considered to be one of the earliest and most basal cynodonts. It was 60 cm (2 ft) long.
Remains of Procynosuchus have been found in Russia,[1] Germany, Zambia and South Africa.[2]
Paleobiology
As one of the earliest cynodonts, Procynosuchus has many primitive features, but it also has features that distinguish it from all other early therapsids. Some of these features were interpreted by Kemp (1980) as adaptations for a semi-aquatic lifestyle. For example, the wide
Discovery
Procynosuchus was named by South African paleontologist Robert Broom in 1937. Broom also named the cynodont Cyrbasiodon in 1931. Another genus, Parathrinaxodon, was named by Parrington in 1936. These genera are now regarded as synonyms of Procynosuchus, as they represent the same animal. Under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN), these two names take precedence over Procynosuchus because they were erected earlier. The names Cyrbasiodon and Parathrinaxodon were rarely used after their erection, while the name Procynosuchus has since become widespread in scientific literature. In a case brought to the ICZN in 2009, some scientists proposed that Procynosuchus should be a nomen conservandum, or conserved name, making Cyrbasiodon and Parathrinaxodon nomina rejecta, or rejected names.[4] In 2010, the ICZN formally made Procynosuchus a nomen conservandum.[5]
References
- ^ a b "Procynosuchus". paleobiodb.org. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
- ISBN 0-19-850760-7
- .
- ISSN 0007-5167.
- ^ ICZN (2010). "OPINION 2264 (Case 3431) Procynosuchus Broom, 1937 (Therapsida, Cynodontia): generic name conserved". Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature. 37 (4): 348–349.