Titanophoneus

Titanophoneus ("titanic murderer") is an extinct genus of carnivorous dinocephalian therapsid from the Middle Permian. It is classified within the family Anteosauridae. The type species is Titanophoneus potens.[1] Remains of Titanophoneus have been found at Isheevo, Russia.

Titanophoneus
Temporal range: Guadalupian (Roadian to Wordian),
Mounted skeleton of Titanophoneus potens
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Synapsida
Clade: Therapsida
Suborder: †Dinocephalia
Family: †Anteosauridae
Subfamily: †Anteosaurinae
Genus: †Titanophoneus
Efremov, 1938
Type species
†Titanophoneus potens
Efremov, 1938
Species
  • Titanophoneus potens Efremov, 1938
  • Titanophoneus adamanteus Orlov, 1958
Synonyms
  • Doliosaurus Orlov, 1958
  • Doliosauriscus Orlov, 1958

Description

An adult skull would have reached 80 cm with a heavy long snout. The long tail and short limbs show the species to be a primitive therapsid, unlike Inostrancevia, which was more advanced. The structure of the limbs and the density of the bone are designed for a sprawling stance. The temporal opening is more advanced than Estemmenosuchidae, but less advanced than Inostrancevia.

The teeth are large with 12 large palate incisors followed by 2 canines and various smaller back teeth. The lower palate is the same as the upper but without the canine teeth. The appearance of Titanophoneus is reminiscent to the sphenacodontid pelycosaurs, which included Dimetrodon.

  • Reconstruction of a T. potens feasting on a Ulemosaurus
    Reconstruction of a T. potens feasting on a Ulemosaurus
  • Reconstruction of a pair of T. potens
    Reconstruction of a pair of T. potens
  • Fossil skeleton of a juvenile individual.
    Fossil skeleton of a juvenile individual.
  • Reconstruction of T. adamanteus
    Reconstruction of T. adamanteus
  • Two specimens of T. potens compared to a human
    Two specimens of T. potens compared to a human

See also

References
  1. Kammerer, C.F. (2011). "Systematics of the Anteosauria (Therapsida: Dinocephalia)". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 9 (2). doi:10.1080/14772019.2010.492645.
  • Vickers-Rich, Patricia; Thomas H. Rich (1993). The Great Russian Dinosaurs. Guntar Graphics. p. 36.
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