In Depth
Phonodus has been described as a genus of procolophonid that lived in South Africa during the earliest part of the Permian. With Phonodus being the fifth such genus from this time and location, this suggests that the procolophonids survived fairly well during the extinction that signalled the end of the Permian. Phonodus is noted for having proportionately large and robust teeth as well as strongly developed tooth bearing bones, features suggestive of a durophagus diet.
Further Reading
- A new and unusual procolophonid parareptile from the Lower Triassic Katberg Formation of South Africa. - Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30(3):715-723. - S. P. Modesto, D. M. Scott, J. Botha-Brink & R. R. Reisz - 2010.
