Theriognathus

Feh-ree-og-nath-us.
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Benjamin Gutierrez

Vertebrate Paleontologist

Benjamin Gutierrez is a leading expert on dinosaurs, particularly the mighty theropods. His fieldwork in South America has uncovered new species and provided insights into dinosaur social structures.

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Name

Theriognathus (Mammal jaw).

Phonetic

Feh-ree-og-nath-us.

Named By

Classification

Chordata, Synapsida, Therapsida, Therocephalia, Whaitsiidae.

Diet

Carnivore.

Species

T. microps

Size

1 meter long.

Known locations

South Africa.

Time Period

Late Permian.

Fossil representation

Skull.

In Depth

       Theriognathus represents a later group of therapsids that would survive into the Triassic. Although the name Theriognathus means mammal jaw, the lower jaw is actually made of several bones like in reptiles. Theriognathus was more suited to hunting smaller prey items in the undergrowth.

Further Reading

– On the genus Theriognathus Owen (including Whaitsia, Notosollasia, Alopecopsis, Notaelurops, Moschorhynchus and Aneugomphius). – Annals of the Geological Survey, Pretoria. 14: 1–37. – A. S. Brink – 1980.

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