Named By: | Harry Govier Seeley in 1895 |
Time Period: | Middle Triassic, Olenekian-Anisian |
Location: | Namibia - Omingonde Formation, and South Africa. - Burgersdorp Formation |
Size: | Largest known skull up to 89 millimetres long |
Diet: | Carnivore |
Fossil(s): | Several individuals |
Classification: | | Chordata | Synapsida | Therapsida | Therocephalia | Scylacosauria | Eutherocephalia | Bauriidae | |
Also known as: | | Bauria | Herpetogale | Melinodon | Sesamodon | Watsoniella | |
Microgomphodon is an extinct genus of therocephalian therapsid from the Middle Triassic of South Africa and Namibia. Currently only one species of Microgomphodon, M. oligocynus, is recognized. With fossils present in the Cynognathus Assemblage Zone (CAZ) of the Burgersdorp Formation in South Africa and Omingonde Formation of Namibia and ranging in age from late Olenekian to Anisian, it is one of the most geographically and temporally widespread therocephalian species. Moreover, its occurrence in the upper Omigonde Formation of Namibia makes Micogomphodon the latest-surviving therocephalian. Microgomphodon is a member of the family Bauriidae and a close relative of Bauria, another South African bauriid from the CAZ. Like other bauriids, it possesses several mammal-like features such as a secondary palate and broad, molar-like postcanine teeth, all of which evolved independently from mammals.