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C. brasilensis C. sanjuanensis C. theotonicus |
Chiniquodon is a genus of meat-eating ‘mammal-like reptile’, (Therapsids), which lived during the lower Upper Triassic in South America. These animals were approaching dog-sized. This genus seems to be most closely related to its contemporary, Probelesodon. In various respects, the anatomy is strongly mammal-like, though not strongly enough to be viewed as a direct ancestor.
Other contemporaries included early dinosaurs. As both groups filled a similar ecological role, this might explain the disappearance of fairly large hunters such as Chiniquodon.
Genus: Chiniquodon von Huene FF, 1936
'Chiniquá tooth' (?)
Aka: Probelesodon (partly)
Species: Chiniquodon brasilensis Barberena, 1982
Place: near Chiniquá, Santa Maria Formation
Country: Brazil
Age: Carnian, Upper Triassic
Remarks: A respectably dog-sized predator, with a skull-length of about ten cm. This species may not have been formally published.
Reference:
Species: Chiniquodon sanjuanensis (Martinez RN & Forster CA, 1996)
Aka: Probelesodon sanjuanensis Martinez RN & Forster CA, 1996
Place: Ischigualasto Formation
Country: Argentina
Age: Carnian, Upper Triassic
Remarks: This skull was reassigned to this genus, (in 2002?). It's differentiated from Chiniquodon theotonicus on account of its teeth and the shape of the zygomatic process, (which is part of the cheek area).
Reference: Martinez & Forster (1996), The skull of Probelesodon sanjuanensis, sp. nov., from the late Triassic Ischigualasto Fm. of Argentina. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 16, p.285-291.
Species: Chiniquodon theotonicus von Huene FF, 1936
Place: Santa Maria Formation & Chanares Formation
Country: Brazil & Argentina
Age: Carnian, Upper Triassic
Remarks: Known from a number of skulls. The holotype, (the fossil upon which this species and genus is based), is in the paleontological collection at Tübingen University, Germany.
Reference: von Huene (1936), Die Fossilien Reptilien des südamerikanischen Gondwanalandes an der Zeitenwende (Denwa-Molteno-Unterkeuper = Ober-Karnisch). Ergebnisse der Sauriergrabungen in Südbrasilien 1928/29. Lieferung 2, p.93-159.
(The fossil reptiles of South American Gondwana during the temporal transition (Denwa-Molteno-Upper Triassic = Upper Carnian). Results of the excavations in South Brazil 1928/29. Part 2, p.93-159.)
(This information has been derived from [1] TRIASSIC CYNODONTS; Cynognathidae, Probainognathidae and ‘Allies’, an internet directory. As that's my webpage, there are no issues of copyright. Trevor Dykes)
