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MICROGOMPHODON
(my-krow-gom-foe-don)
Microgomphodon
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 |
About

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.

Read more about Microgomphodon at Wikipedia
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