Probainognathia

Probainognathia Temporal range:
Fossil of the probainognathian Chiniquodon theotonicus in the Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Clade:	Synapsida
Clade:	Therapsida
Clade:	Cynodontia
Clade:	Eucynodontia
Clade:	Probainognathia
Subgroups
†Ecteniniidae †Lumkuiidae Chiniquodontoidea

The probainognathians are members of one of the two major clades of the infraorder Eucynodontia, the other being Cynognathians. The earliest forms were carnivorous and insectivorous, though some species eventually also evolved herbivorous diets. The earliest and most basal probainognathian is Lumkuia, from South Africa. Three groups survived the extinction at the end of Triassic: the Tritheledontidae and Tritylodontidae, who both survived until the Jurassic—the latter possibly even into the Cretaceous (Xenocretosuchus)—and Mammaliaformes, who gave rise to the mammals.

Classification

Taxonomy

Partial skeleton of an unidentified probainognathian from Madagascar in the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago

• Suborder Cynodontia
  • Infraorder Eucynodontia
    • (unranked) Probainognathia
      • Family Ecteniniidae
      • Family Lumkuiidae
      • Superfamily Chiniquodontoidea
        • Family Chiniquodontidae
        • Family Tritheledontidae
        • Family Probainognathidae
        • (unranked) Prozostrodontia
          • Prozostrodon
          • Family Brasilodontidae
          • Family Dromatheriidae
          • Family Therioherpetidae
          • Family Tritylodontidae
          • (unranked) Mammaliaformes
            • Class Mammalia

Phylogeny

Below is a cladogram from Ruta, Botha-Brink, Mitchell and Benton (2013) showing one hypothesis of cynodont relationships:

Cynodontia;

†Charassognathus †Dvinia †Procynosuchus Epicynodontia †Cynosaurus †Galesaurus †Progalesaurus †Nanictosaurus †Thrinaxodon †Platycraniellus Eucynodontia †Cynognathia Probainognathia †Lumkuia †Ecteninion †Aleodon †Chiniquodon †Probainognathus †Trucidocynodon †Therioherpeton Tritheledontidae †Riograndia †Chaliminia †Elliotherium †Diarthrognathus †Pachygenelus Brasilodontidae †Brasilitherium †Brasilodon Tritylodontidae †Oligokyphus †Kayentatherium †Tritylodon †Beinotherium Mammaliaformes †Sinoconodon †Morganucodon Mammal

See also

• Evolution of mammals
• Prehistoric mammals
• List of prehistoric mammals