Chiniquodon is a genus of carnivorous cynodont, which lived during the early Late Triassic in South America. Chiniquodon is closely related to a contemporary genus, Probelesodon, and close to the ancestry of mammals.
Other contemporaries included early dinosaurs. As both groups filled a similar ecological niche, fairly large therapsid hunters such as Chiniquodon may have been outcompeted by dinosaurs.
Species[]
Chiniquodon brasilensis[]
- Place: The Paleontological Site Chiniquá, Santa Maria Formation
- Country: Brazil, in geopark of paleorrota.
- Age: Carnian, Upper Triassic
Remarks: A dog-sized predator, with a skull-length of about 10 cm. This species may not have been formally published.
Chiniquodon sanjuanensis[]
- Place: Ischigualasto Formation
- Country: Argentina
- Age: Carnian (Upper Triassic)
This skull was reassigned to this genus in 2002.[2] It's differentiated from Chiniquodon theotonicus because of its teeth and the shape of the zygomatic process.
Chiniquodon theotonicus[]
- Place: Santa Maria Formation and Chañares Formation
- Country: Brazil and Argentina
- Age: Carnian (Upper Triassic)
This species is known from a number of skulls. The holotype is in the paleontological collection at Tübingen University, Germany.
Chiniquodon kalanoro[]
- Place: Makay Formation
- Country: Madagascar
- Age: Ladinian/Carnian (Upper Triassic)
This species is known from a mandible (holotype UA 10607).