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| 'Phthinosuchus' |
| Type |
Synapsid:Early therapsid |
| Length |
1-2 m long (3.5 ft - 6.5 ft) |
| Movement |
quadruped |
| Age |
255 - 251 mya (Late Permian) |
| Diet |
Carnivore - large reptiles, dicynodonts, cynodonts, amphibians |
| Environment |
dry desert, oasis |
| Distribution |
Russia |
Phthinosuchus was a therapsid that lived in Late Permian of Russia. Phthinosuchus is the sole member of its family and suborder, but Pthinosaurus may be a relative. Phthinosuchus is one of the most primitive therapsids, and its ancestors from the earlier part of Permian age branched off early from the therapsid line. Phthinosuchus looked much like the Sphenacodontids, such as Dimetrodon and Sphenacodon. Its temporal fenestrae is larger than that of the Sphenacodontids. Phthinosuchus and the other early therapsids were probably scaly skinned, sprawling, carnivorous synapsids.
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