Probainognathia


The probainognathians are members of one of the two major clades of the infraorder Eucynodontia, the other being Cynognathians. The earliest forms were carnivorous and insectivorous, though some species eventually also evolved herbivorous diets. The earliest and most basal probainognathian is Lumkuia, from South Africa. Three groups survived the extinction at the end of Triassic: the Tritheledontidae and Tritylodontidae, who both survived until the Jurassic—the latter possibly even into the Cretaceous —and Mammaliaformes, who gave rise to the mammals.

Classification

Taxonomy

Below is a cladogram from Ruta, Botha-Brink, Mitchell and Benton showing one hypothesis of cynodont relationships: