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 in Russia.

Titanophoneus
Temporal range: Middle Permian, 268–265 Ma
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Titanophoneus potens skeleton
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Therapsida
Suborder: †Dinocephalia
Family: †Anteosauridae
Genus: †Titanophoneus
Efremov, 1938
Species:
†T. potens
Binomial name
†Titanophoneus potens
Efremov, 1938
Synonyms
  • Doliosaurus

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. Total length would be 2.85 meters.

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.

  • Life restoration of Titanophoneus potens
  • Titanophoneus 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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