| Brithopus Temporal range:Middle Permian, Ufimian | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Synapsida |
| Clade: | Therapsida |
| Suborder: | †Dinocephalia |
| Family: | †Brithopodidae |
| Genus: | †Brithopus Kutorga,1838 |
| Species: | †B. priscus |
| Binomial name | |
| †Brithopus priscus Kutorga, 1838 | |
| Synonyms | |
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Brithopus is an extinct genus ofdinocephaliantherapsids. It contains a single species,Brithopus priscus, known from fragmentary remains found in the CopperSandstones nearIsheevo,Russia.
Brithopus was fairly large, reaching a length of 2.5–3 m (8–10 ft).[1] The skull was similar toTitanophoneus, but more massive and heavily built.[2]
B. priscus was first named in 1838 and was traditionally classified in theAnteosauria, a group of carnivorous dinocephalians.Brithopus served as the basis for the family Brithopodidae, which once included many anteosaurian species. Because it is based on fragmentary material,Brithopus is regarded as anomen dubium by some researchers.Brithopus was later considered a possibleestemmenosuchid,[3] a type of herbivoroustapinocephalian therapsid.[4]
Dinosaurus andEurosaurus have both been considered synonyms ofBrithopus.[5]
