Procynosuchus

Procynosuchus
Temporal range: Wuchiapingian, 260.4–253.8 Ma
Procynosuchus delaharpeae from the Late Permian of South Africa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Synapsida
Order: Therapsida
Suborder: Cynodontia
Family: †Procynosuchidae
Genus: †Procynosuchus
Broom, 1938
Species
  • P. delaharpeae
  • P. rubidgei
Synonyms
  • Cyrbasiodon Broom, 1931
  • Parathrinaxodon Parrington, 1936

Procynosuchus (Greek: "Before dog crocodile") was a cynodont from the Late Permian. It is considered to be one of the earliest and most basal cynodonts. Remains of Procynosuchus have been found in Germany, Zambia and South Africa.[1] It was 60 cm (2 ft) long.

Paleobiology

Skelton of Procynosuchus delaharpeae at the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo, Japan.

As one of the earliest cynodonts, Procynosuchus has many primitive features, but it also has features that distinguish it from all other early therapsids. Some of these features have been interpreted as adaptations for a semi-aquatic lifestyle. For example, the wide zygapophyses of the vertebrae allow for a high degree of lateral flexibility, and Procynosuchus may have used anguilliform locomotion, or eel-like undulation, to swim through the water. The tail of Procynosuchus is also unusually long for a cynodont. The long haemal arches would have given the tail a large lateral surface area for greater propulsion through the water. Relatively flat foot bones may also have been an adaptation toward swimming, as the feet may have been used like paddles. Ridges on the femur are an indication of strong flexor muscles that could have stabilized the leg during limb-driven swimming. When the thigh is pulled back in the water, the lower leg tends to bend forward. Strong flexor muscles would have pulled the lower leg back with the femur, providing the powerful backward thrust that is needed to swim.[2]

Naming

Procynosuchus was named by South African paleontologist Robert Broom in 1937. Broom also named the cynodont Cyrbasiodon in 1931. Another genus, Parathrinaxodon, was named by Parrington in 1936. These genera are now regarded as synonyms of Procynosuchus, as they represent the same animal. Under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN), these two names take precedence over Procynosuchus because they were erected earlier. The names Cyrbasiodon and Parathrinaxodon were rarely used after their erection, while the name Procynosuchus has since become widespread in scientific literature. In a case brought to the ICZN in 2009, some scientists proposed that Procynosuchus should be a nomen conservandum, or conserved name, making Cyrbasiodon and Parathrinaxodon nomina rejecta, or rejected names.[3] IN 2010, the ICZN formally made Procynosuchus a nomen conservandum.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ T. S. Kemp: The Origin and Evolution of Mammals Oxford University Press, 2005. ISBN 0-19-850760-7
  2. ↑ Kemp, T.S. (1980). "The primitive cynodont Procynosuchus: structure, function and evolution of the postcranial skeleton" (PDF). Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 288 (1027): 217–258. Bibcode:1980RSPTB.288..217K. doi:10.1098/rstb.1980.0001.
  3. ↑ Kammerer, C.F.; Abdala, F. (2009). "Procynosuchus Broom, 1937 (Therapsida, Cynodontia): proposed precedence over Cyrbasiodon Broom, 1931 and Parathrinaxodon Parrington, 1936". Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 66 (4): 64–69. ISSN 0007-5167.
  4. ↑ ICZN (2010). "OPINION 2264 (Case 3431) Procynosuchus Broom, 1937 (Therapsida, Cynodontia): generic name conserved". Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 37 (4): 348–349.

See also

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