An extinct therapsid (mammal-like reptile) from the Triassic period with dog-like teeth, representing an evolutionary step toward modern mammals.
From Greek 'kyon' (dog) and 'gnathos' (jaw/teeth), named for its dog-like teeth. The genus was formally described in the late 19th century from South African fossils.
Cynognathus is one of those remarkable fossils that shows you the actual movie of evolution—it has reptile features AND mammal features, literally caught mid-transformation between two kinds of animals.
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