Suminia

Suminia
Temporal range: Late Permian, 260 Ma
↓
Suminia getmanovi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Order:Therapsida
Family:†Otsheridae
Genus:†Suminia
Ivachnenko, 1994
Species: †S. getmanovi
Binomial name
Suminia getmanovi
Ivachnenko, 1994

Suminia getmanovi is an extinct species of anomodont, that lived 260 million years ago in the late Permian ("zone II"). This anomodont was discovered in Kotelnich on the Vyatka River Russia. It was found in sandstone sediment, so it most likely was a delta-dwelling species, but this is not conclusive, as the specimen may have been washed downriver, away from its habitat. S. getmanovi has teeth that are heavily abraded, suggesting a diet consisting of plant material with a high silica content. More recently found fossils indicate that it led an arboreal lifestyle.

Features

The teeth were quite large for its size containing a single cusp per tooth with many serrations as in a serrated knife. These teeth were replaced throughout its life cycle. The eye socket was fairly large and placed near the temporal opening, separated by a thin postorbital bar. Suminia had grasping hands, which has led researchers to conclude that it was a tree-climbing animal, the earliest known such vertebrate species found thus far.[1]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Field Museum scientist describes first vertebrate to live in trees


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