Polycynodon is an extinct genus of therocephalians from the Late Permian of South Africa. It is known from the Cistecephalus Assemblage Zone.[1] The type species was first described as Octocynodon elegans by South African paleontologist Robert Broom in 1940, but the name Octocynodon was preoccupied by a genus of labrid fish first described in 1904.[2] Along with John T. Robinson, Broom instated Polycynodon as a replacement name for O. elegans in 1948. Polycynodon is classified in Baurioidea, although its relationship to other baurioid therocephalians is uncertain.[3]

Polycynodon
Temporal range: Late Permian
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Synapsida
Clade: Therapsida
Clade: Therocephalia
Superfamily: Baurioidea
Genus: Polycynodon
Broom and Robinson, 1948
Type species
Polycynodon elegans
(Broom, 1940) (originally Octocynodon elegans)

References edit

  1. ^ Nicolas, M.; Rubidge, B.S. (2010). "Changes in Permo-Triassic terrestrial tetrapod ecological representation in the Beaufort Group (Karoo Supergroup) of South Africa". Lethaia. 43 (1): 45–59. doi:10.1111/j.1502-3931.2009.00171.x.
  2. ^ "Genus: Octocynodon Fowler, 1904". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. GBIF. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  3. ^ Watson, D.M.S.; Romer, A.S. (1956). "A classification of therapsid reptiles". Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 114 (2): 37–89.