Diictodon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| iDiictodon
| ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| | ||||||||||||||||
|
Diictodon was an extremely common[citation needed] genus of therapsid, roughly 18 inches long. It belonged to the sub-group Dicynodontia. These mammal-like synapsids lived during the Late Permian period, approximately 255 million years ago. Fossils have been found in Africa and Asia (in fact, roughly half of all Permian vertabrates found in South Africa are that of Diictodon). This small herbivorous animal was one of the most successful synapsids in the Permian period.
Contents |
[edit] Appearance
Diictodon had proportionally large heads that ended in a horny beak. Both males and females had a pair of tusks sticking out from the upper jaw, with those of the male being slightly larger. Diictodon had strong arms and legs, as well as 5 sharp claws on each hand, and may have had keen senses of smell and sight. Thir spines moved side to side as they walked. Their jaws were also simplified, with some of the bones dedicated instead to hearing, considered a key sign of mammalian adaptation.
[edit] Lifestyle
As a therapsid, Diictodon shared many features with modern day mammals. Most noticeably, they made burrows into the earth. These burrows could be up to 5 feet deep. Many scientists believe that Diictodon lived like the modern gopher. These could have been used to escape the heat of the desert, which was the dominant environment on the continent of Pangaea. Inside these burrows, nests have been found, where Diictodon skeletons are sometimes found in pairs. This suggests that the two Diictodon (a male and a female) mated for life. Many Diictodon, however, nested close to flood plains, and some specimens may have been killed as water flowed into the nests, drowning the animals. Diictodon had no known rival species competing in its niche, so they may have competed primarily with others of their species for the little plant material available.
[edit] Diet
Like all dicynodonts, Diictodon were herbivorous. They used their beaks to break off pieces of the sparse desert shrubs. Like modern desert animals, Diictodon may have had unusually efficient digestive systems, due to the lack of nutrients present in desert plants. As burrowing animals, they may have fed off of water-rich plant tubers (roots).
[edit] Relatives
Although members of the therapsid group of synapsids evolved into mammals, the line including Diictodon evolved into larger species of synapsid. These dicynodonts, such as Lystrosaurus and Placerias dominated the earlier part of the Triassic period. However, they were out-competed by herbivorous reptiles, such as the prosauropod dinosaurs.nl:Diictodon ja:ディイクトドン
