''Kataigidodon'' ("thunderstorm tooth") is an extinct
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
eucynodont cynodont
Cynodontia () is a clade of eutheriodont therapsids that first appeared in the Late Permian (approximately 260 Megaannum, mya), and extensively diversified after the Permian–Triassic extinction event. Mammals are cynodonts, as are their extin ...
therapsid that was discovered in the
Chinle Formation of Arizona.
[Kligman, B.T.; Marsh, A.D.; Sues, H.D.; Sidor, C.A.; 2020 "A new non-mammalian eucynodont from the Chinle Formation (Triassic: Norian), and implications for the early Mesozoic equatorial cynodont record": Biological Letters. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2020.0631] It is a monotypic genus, with only type species ''Kataigidodon venetus'' known.
Description
The large
mental foramen
The mental foramen is one of two foramina (openings) located on the anterior surface of the mandible. It is part of the mandibular canal. It transmits the terminal branches of the inferior alveolar nerve and the mental vessels.
Structure
Th ...
of ''Kataigidodon venetus'' is anteroposteriorly longer than it is tall. It opens on the lateral side of the dentary below the first and second
postcanine teeth. The mental foramen is at the anterior end of a shallow lateral fossa. The large size and dimensions of this foramen are distinct from most eucynodonts, where the foramen is small and circular. It most closely resembles those of the traversodonts ''
Boreogomphodon'' and ''
Arctotraversodon''. Anterior to the mental foramen on the lateral dentary surface is a scattering of numerous tiny pits, which represent immature bone grain.
References
External links
Geology page
Eucynodontia
Late Triassic synapsids of North America
Chinle fauna
Fossil taxa described in 2020
{{Paleo-cynodont-stub