| Procynosuchids | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Procynosuchus delaharpeae from the Late Permian of South Africa | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Synapsida |
| Clade: | Therapsida |
| Clade: | Cynodontia |
| Family: | †Procynosuchidae Broom, 1938 |
| Genera | |
Procynosuchidae is an extinct family of therapsids which, along withDviniidae, were the earliestcynodonts.[1] They appeared around 260 million years ago, and were most abundant during the latestPermian time (251 mya), shortly before thePermian-Triassic extinction event. Despite being the basal member of the cynodont clade, they already showed some of the advanced mammalian characteristics, but procynosuchids bore resemblance to thetherocephalians.
Procynosuchid eyes were forward-facing, and thedentary was larger than the therocephalians. The procynosuchids had asecondary palate, which allows them to eat food while breathing, just like mammals. The procynosuchids became extinct at thePermian-Triassic extinction event. Some procynosuchids wereterrestrial, but others likeProcynosuchus were semi-aquatic.
