| Cynodontia | |
|---|---|
| |
| Cynognathus crateronotus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| clade: | Synapsida |
| Order: | Therapsida |
| Suborder: | Cynodontia Owen, 1861 |
Cynodontia is a suborder of extinct small mammal-like reptiles (also known as primitive synapsids, or 'proto-mammals') that lived in Europe and eastern North America during the middle to late Triassic period. 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, the cynodonts 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.