Ecteninion
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| Ecteninion Conservation status: Fossil | ||||||||||
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| Ecteninion lunensis Martinez, May and Forster, 1996 |
Ecteninion is a genus of meat-eating mammal-like reptiles (Therapsids) that lived during the Triassic of South America. Its affinities are unclear, but it seems to be related to Probainognathus. The genus Ecteninion was named by Martinez R.N., May C.L. and Forster C.A. in 1996 based on a single species.
The species Ecteninion lunensis is known from a nearly complete skull of about 11 cm in length. It was found in Carnian (Upper Triassic)-age strata of the Ischigualasto Formation in Argentina. It has been interpreted as a basal eucynodont. The holotype is in the collection of the Universidad Nacional de San Juan.
References
- Martinez et al (1996) "A new carnivorous cynodont from the Ischigualasto formation (Late Triassic, Argentina), with comments on eucynodont phylogeny." J. of Vert. Paleontology 16(2), p.271-284.
- TRIASSIC CYNODONTS: Cynognathidae, Probainognathidae and "Allies", an Internet directory (http://home.arcor.de/ktdykes/cynoga.htm)