Gorgonopsid
The Gorgonopsids [1] were Therapsids, a group of tetrapods which eventually gave rise to the mammals. Gorgonopsids had fur and layed eggs.
| Gorgonopsia Temporal range: Middle to Late Permian
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| Gorgonops | |
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| Suborder: | †Gorgonopsia Seeley, 1895
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| Family: | †Gorgonopsidae Lydekker, 1890
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Gorgonopsinae | |
Gorgonopsids were a successful group which lived during the Permian period, about 260 million years ago. They became extinct in the Permian–Triassic extinction event.
They were the major predators of their day. They had large, powerful, square-shaped jaws with huge, sabre-like canine and interlaced, socket-like teeth. Many fossils have been found in South Africa.
The largest known, Inostrancevia, was the size of a large bear with a 45 cm long skull, and 12-cm long sabre-like teeth.
The Gorgonopsidae are divided into three sub-families:
- Rubidginae, which had large, broad skulls,
- Gorgonopsinae, which included most of the gorgonopsid genera.
- Inostranceviinae
Gorgonopsid Media
Size comparison between a person and Inostrancevia (reconstructed with long lips and some hair)
Skull of Aelurosaurus felinus showing tooth arrangement, dual canines, and canine root depth
Skeleton of the specimen GPIT/RE/7113[a]
Reconstruction of Gorgonops
Reconstruction of the head of an Inostrancevia latifrons, the largest gorgonopsian discovered to date, with a skull measuring 60 cm (24 in)
Reconstruction of the head of Eriphostoma microdon, one of the most basal gorgonopsians known from South Africa.
Reconstruction of the head of Arctognathus curvimola, a gorgonopsid known from South Africa.
Artist's impression of the head of Dinogorgon rubidgei, a rubidgeine known from fossils from South Africa and Tanzania.
Tetrapod distribution and temperature belts through the Upper Permian and Early Triassic
Notes
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