Thrinaxodon

Thrinaxodon liorhinus

Resurrected on:

30 aug. 2020

Genus information

Thrinaxodon is a genus of cynodont that lived in Africa and Antarctica during the Lower Triassic epoch. Cynodonts belong to a group, called stem mammals and are thought to be the ancestors of all mammals. Thrinaxodon lived just after the Permian - Triassic mass extinction event and its ancestors probably survived by their burrowing habits. It probably fed on small reptiles and invertebrates.

Family:

Distribution:

Epoch:

Thrinaxodontidae

Africa and Antarctica

Lower Triassic

Species information

The genus of Thrinaxodon contains a single species, T. liorhinus. Fossils of Thrinaxodon have been found in South Africa and Antarctica. It had roughly the size of a fox, had a slender and long body and short legs. Thrinaxodon is also famous for the fossilized burrow that was found in 2013, containing a complete specimen alongside a complete specimen of Broomistega, a primitive amphibian.

Species:

Paleontologist:

Distribution:

Epoch:

Thrinaxodon liorhinus

Seeley, 1894

Africa and Antarctica

Lower Triassic

Length:

Height:

Weight:

50 cm

20 cm

10 kg

Reference:

Fernandez, V., Abdala, F., Carlson, K. J., Rubidge, B. S., Yates, A., & Tafforeau, P. (2013). Synchrotron reveals Early Triassic odd couple: injured amphibian and aestivating therapsid share burrow. PLoS One, 8(6), e64978.