Secodontosaurus willistoni, an extinct genus of synapsid, a group of mammal-related animals that lived during the Permian period, approximately 275 million years ago. It was a member of a group known as therapsids, which were the predecessors of modern mammals.
Secodontosaurus willistoni was a medium-sized animal, with an estimated length of around 2.7 meters. It had a large, elongated skull, with sharp, conical teeth that suggest it fed on small prey, such as insects and other small animals.
One of the most distinctive features of Secodontosaurus willistoni was its lower jaw, which had an additional Y-shaped bone at the back, giving it a unique look. This feature could have played a role in the biomechanics of the jaw and how food was processed.
Secodontosaurus willistoni is believed to have lived in terrestrial environments and possibly had nocturnal habits to avoid diurnal predators and competitors. Its dental and jaw structure suggest that it may have had a carnivorous or insectivorous diet, meaning it ate mainly meat or insects.
This genus was named after Samuel Wendell Williston, an American paleontologist who made important contributions to the study of vertebrate fossils. Secodontosaurus willistoni is just one of many therapsid species that inhabited Earth in the past and played a crucial role in the evolution of modern mammals.
Approximate measurements of the Secodontosaurus:
Secodontosaurus willistoni was a medium-sized animal, with an estimated length of around 2.7 meters. It had a large, elongated skull, with sharp, conical teeth that suggest it fed on small prey, such as insects and other small animals.
One of the most distinctive features of Secodontosaurus willistoni was its lower jaw, which had an additional Y-shaped bone at the back, giving it a unique look. This feature could have played a role in the biomechanics of the jaw and how food was processed.
Secodontosaurus willistoni is believed to have lived in terrestrial environments and possibly had nocturnal habits to avoid diurnal predators and competitors. Its dental and jaw structure suggest that it may have had a carnivorous or insectivorous diet, meaning it ate mainly meat or insects.
This genus was named after Samuel Wendell Williston, an American paleontologist who made important contributions to the study of vertebrate fossils. Secodontosaurus willistoni is just one of many therapsid species that inhabited Earth in the past and played a crucial role in the evolution of modern mammals.
Approximate measurements of the Secodontosaurus:
- 1:35 scale - 80mm
