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Eothyrididae: Difference between revisions

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The term "mammal-like reptile" is deprecated in modern paleontology.
Added information on the recently published eothyridid Vaughnictis
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The '''Eothyrididae''' were a small group of very primitive, [[insectivore|insectivorous]] [[synapsids]]. Only two genera are known, ''[[Eothyris]]'' and ''[[Oedaleops]]'', both from the early [[Permian]] of [[North America]]. Their main distinguishing feature is the large [[caniniform]] tooth in front of the [[maxilla]].
The '''Eothyrididae''' were a small group of very primitive, [[insectivore|insectivorous]] [[synapsids]]. Only threegenera are known, ''[[Eothyris]]'', ''[[Vaughnictis]]'' and ''[[Oedaleops]]'', all from the early [[Permian]] of [[North America]]. Their main distinguishing feature is the large [[caniniform]] tooth in front of the [[maxilla]].


Eothyridids share with the [[Caseidae]] a number of specialised features associated with the morphology of the snout and external naris and it is likely that they were ancestral to them. The two together form the clade [[Caseasauria]].
Eothyridids share with the [[Caseidae]] a number of specialised features associated with the morphology of the snout and external naris and it is likely that they were ancestral to them. The two together form the clade [[Caseasauria]].


''Eothyris'' is known from a single skull specimen; ''Oedaleops'' is known from three partial skulls and some parts of some limbs. The skulls are approximately 6 centimeters in length, suggesting that the total length of the animals was under 1 meter.
''Eothyris'' is known from a single skull specimen; ''Oedaleops'' is known from three partial skulls and some parts of some limbs. ''Vaughnictis'' is known from a partial skull, six dorsal vertebrae and some hind-limb bones. The skulls are approximately 6 centimeters in length, suggesting that the total length of the animals was under 1 meter.


Both species were found in the lower [[Permian]] in what is today [[North America]]. In modern cladistics, the Eothyrididae are considered to be a basal group within the [[Caseasauria]]. [[Caseasauria]] forms a sister group of the [[Eupelycosauria]], out of which the [[therapsids]] evolved.
The species were found in the lower [[Permian]] in what is today [[North America]]. In modern cladistics, the Eothyrididae are considered to be a basal group within the [[Caseasauria]]. [[Caseasauria]] forms a sister group of the [[Eupelycosauria]], out of which the [[therapsids]] evolved.


==See also==
==See also==
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* [[Robert Reisz|Reisz, R. R.]], 1986, ''Handbuch der Paläoherpetologie – Encyclopedia of Paleoherpetology, Part 17A Pelycosauria'' [[Verlag Friedrich Pfeil|Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil]], ISBN 3-89937-032-5
* [[Robert Reisz|Reisz, R. R.]], 1986, ''Handbuch der Paläoherpetologie – Encyclopedia of Paleoherpetology, Part 17A Pelycosauria'' [[Verlag Friedrich Pfeil|Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil]], ISBN 3-89937-032-5
* [[Alfred Sherwood Romer|Romer, AS]] & [[Llewellyn Price|Price L.I]] (1940), Review of the Pelycosauria. ''Geol. Soc. Amer. Spec. Papers'' 28: 1-538.
* [[Alfred Sherwood Romer|Romer, AS]] & [[Llewellyn Price|Price L.I]] (1940), Review of the Pelycosauria. ''Geol. Soc. Amer. Spec. Papers'' 28: 1-538.
* [[Neil Brocklehurst|Brocklehurst, N.]], [[Robert Reisz|Reisz, R. R.]], [[Vincent Fernandez|Fernandez, V.]] & [[Jörg Fröbisch|Fröbisch, J. (2016) ''A Re-Description of 'Mycterosaurus' smithae, an Early Permian Eothyridid, and Its Impact on the Phylogeny of Pelycosaurian-Grade Synapsids. ''PlosOne'' 11:e0156810.


==External links==
==External links==

Revision as of 10:52, 1 July 2016

Eothyrididae
Temporal range: Early Permian, 295–290 Ma
life restoration of Eothyris parkeyi, body shape is conjectural since only the skull is known
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Synapsida
Clade: Caseasauria
Family: Eothyrididae
Romer and Price, 1940

The Eothyrididae were a small group of very primitive, insectivorous synapsids. Only threegenera are known, Eothyris, Vaughnictis and Oedaleops, all from the early Permian of North America. Their main distinguishing feature is the large caniniform tooth in front of the maxilla.

Eothyridids share with the Caseidae a number of specialised features associated with the morphology of the snout and external naris and it is likely that they were ancestral to them. The two together form the clade Caseasauria.

Eothyris is known from a single skull specimen; Oedaleops is known from three partial skulls and some parts of some limbs. Vaughnictis is known from a partial skull, six dorsal vertebrae and some hind-limb bones. The skulls are approximately 6 centimeters in length, suggesting that the total length of the animals was under 1 meter.

The species were found in the lower Permian in what is today North America. In modern cladistics, the Eothyrididae are considered to be a basal group within the Caseasauria. Caseasauria forms a sister group of the Eupelycosauria, out of which the therapsids evolved.

See also

References