| Cynodontia | |
|---|---|
| |
| Cynognathus crateronotus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| clade: | Synapsida |
| Order: | Therapsida |
| Suborder: | Cynodontia Owen, 1861 |
Cynodontia is a clade of synapsids that includes true mammals and their closest relatives. Non mammalian Cynodonts grew from 1 to 1.5 metres in length and were omnivorous animals, eating roots, insects, eggs, and possibly even small or infant dinosaurs, such as from that of Podokesaurus or Coelophysis. The name Cynodont means 'dog tooth'. Their weight was approximately 20 kilograms.
In popular culture[]
- In Walking with Dinosaurs episode one: New Blood, two cynodonts (confirmed to be Thrinaxodon in the Complete Guide to Prehistoric Life) are portrayed as nocturnal animals that pair for life and their offspring suckle from their mother's teats. One of these offspring wanders too far from the heart of the burrow, and is swiftly eaten by a Coelophysis.
A depiction of a cynodont. Due to the lack of discovered bones, its accuracy is unknown.