Charassognathus gracilis

This is the earliest known cynodont and the most primitive to date. Its discovery indicates that cynodonts first emerged and diversified in the Gondwana.

Name

Charassognathus gracilis

Authority

Botha, Abdala and Smith, 2007

Meaning of generic name

Greek, charasso, prefix meaning ‘notch’ and gnathus , ‘jaw’, referring to the characteristic notch on the dentary.

[Meaning of specific name

Latin 'graceful']

Size

Skull length: 60 mm, Length: 50 cm

Remains

Holotype (SAM-PK-K10369): complete skull and postcranial elements (cervicals, ribs and limbs elements).

Age and Distribution

Horizon: Hoedemaker Member of the Teekloof Formation, Tropidostoma assemblage zone, Upper Permian (Wuchianpingian).

Type locality: Farm Willowdene, Beaufort West District, Western Cape Province, South Africa.

Classification

Synapsida Therapsida Cynodontia

Further Reading

J. Botha, F. Abdala, and R. M. H. Smith. 2007. The oldest cynodont: new clues on the origin and early diversification of the Cynodontia. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 149(3):477-492.