CYNODONTIA Meaning and
Definition
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Cynodontia is a scientific term in the field of paleontology and refers to a group of extinct synapsids, which are a lineage of animals that includes modern mammals and their closest extinct relatives. Cynodonts roamed the Earth during the Permian and Triassic periods, from approximately 260 to 200 million years ago.
Cynodontia is characterized by its unique combination of mammalian and reptilian features, making it a crucial group for understanding the transition from reptiles to mammals. These ancient creatures possessed several mammalian traits, including a secondary palate (bony partition separating the mouth and nasal passages), differentiated teeth (incisors, canines, premolars, and molars), and a more efficient jaw mechanism. However, cynodonts still exhibited reptilian characteristics such as a sprawling gait and a reptile-like skull.
They occupied diverse ecological niches, ranging from small insectivores to larger predatory forms. Cynodontia played a significant role in the evolutionary history of mammals as they were amongst the ancestors of mammals and showed notable advancements toward the mammalian condition.
The term "cynodontia" is derived from the Greek words "cynos" meaning "dog" and "odontos" meaning "tooth," emphasizing the presence of mammal-like teeth in this group. The study of cynodonts and their fossil record provides valuable insights into the evolutionary processes that led to the emergence and diversification of mammals.
Common Misspellings for CYNODONTIA
- xynodontia
- vynodontia
- fynodontia
- dynodontia
- ctnodontia
- cgnodontia
- chnodontia
- cunodontia
- c7nodontia
- c6nodontia
- cybodontia
- cymodontia
- cyjodontia
- cyhodontia
- cynidontia
- cynkdontia
- cynldontia
- cynpdontia
- cyn0dontia
- cyondontia
Etymology of CYNODONTIA
The word "Cynodontia" has its roots in Greek etymology. It combines two Greek words: "kynos" (κῠ́ων), meaning "dog", and "odous" (ὀδούς), meaning "tooth". The term was coined because the cynodonts, an extinct group of mammal-like reptiles, exhibited certain dental characteristics similar to those of modern-day dogs and mammals.
Similar spelling words for CYNODONTIA
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