Athena Review Image Archive ™
Procynosuchus delaharpae skull
Skull of Procynosuchus delaharpae (after museum )
Procynosuchus delaharpae was a semi-aquatic cynodont ("dog tooth") from the Late Permian period, dating from 260-253 mya. Found in the Cistecephalus and Daptocephalus Zones of South Africa and Zambia, and the Tartarian Zone IV of Russia, Procynosuchus ("Before dog crocodile") evolved from the same basic therapsid ancestors as the therocephalians ("beast heads")
Considered to be one of the earliest and most basal cynodonts, Procynosuchus was 60 cm (2 ft) long and seems to have been adapted to a semi-aquatic lifestyle, with skeletal adaptations including a long, flexible tail and relatively flat bones apparently suited for swimming. A full set of pointed teeth indicate a diet of fish or other aquatic organisms, with hunting methods analagous to that of a crocodile.
Reference:
Kemp, T.S. 1980. The primitive cynodont Procynosuchus: structure, function and evolution of the postcranial skeleton. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 288 (1027): 217–258.
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