Division Cynodontia (Noun)
Meaning
A division of the order Therapsida from the Triassic period comprising small carnivorous tetrapod reptiles often with mammal-like teeth.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The newly discovered fossils were identified as belonging to the division Cynodontia, revealing important insights into the evolution of mammal-like reptiles.
- Division Cynodontia was characterized by its small to medium-sized species, many of which were likely to have been active predators during the Triassic period.
- One notable feature of the division Cynodontia is the presence of mammal-like teeth in some species, showcasing a transitional dental morphology between reptiles and mammals.
- Phylogenetic studies suggest that the division Cynodontia represents an intermediate clade between the sphenacodonts and the earliest mammals, providing a crucial link between these groups.
- A fossilized specimen from the early Triassic was found to possess a combination of reptilian and mammalian traits, placing it within the division Cynodontia, a group known for its diverse range of species.