''Kataigidodon'' ("thunderstorm tooth") is an extinct

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of eucynodont

cynodont The cynodonts () (clade Cynodontia) are a clade of eutheriodont therapsids that first appeared in the Late Permian (approximately 260 mya), and extensively diversified after the Permian–Triassic extinction event. Cynodonts had a wide variety ...

therapsid that was discovered in the

Chinle Formation The Chinle Formation is an Upper Triassic continental geological formation of fluvial, lacustrine, and palustrine to eolian deposits spread across the U.S. states of Nevada, Utah, northern Arizona, western New Mexico, and western Colorado. In Ne ...

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 The m ...

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 Cheek teeth or post-canines comprise the molar and premolar teeth in mammals. Cheek teeth are multicuspidate (having many folds or tubercles). Mammals have multicuspidate molars (three in placentals, four in marsupials, in each jaw quadrant) and p ...

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
Prehistoric cynodont genera Late Triassic synapsids Triassic synapsids of North America Chinle fauna Fossil taxa described in 2020 {{Paleo-therapsid-stub