Procynosuchidae
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 Procynosuchus delaharpeae from the Late Permian of South Africa
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Nanocynodon |
Procynosuchidae, along with Dviniidae, were the earliest cynodonts. They appeared about 260 million years ago, and were abundant during the Latest Permian time (251 mya), just before the Permian-Triassic extinction event. Even though they were primitive, they already had the advanced mammalian characteristics. Procynosuchids had some resemblance to the Therocephalians. Procynosuchid eyes are forward-facing, and the dentary was larger than the therocephalians. The Procynosuchids may had the secondary palate, which allows them to eat food while breathing, just like mammals. The Procynosuchids became extinct by the Permian-Triassic extinction event. Some procynosuchids were terrestrial, but some, like Procynosuchus, were semi-aquatic.
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