| Brithopus
Temporal range: Middle Permian, Ufimian | |
|---|---|
| https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Brithopus_priscus1DB.jpg/220px-Brithopus_priscus1DB.jpg | |
| Scientific classificationhttps://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr.svg/15px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr.svg.png | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Synapsida |
| Clade: | Therapsida |
| Suborder: | †Dinocephalia |
| Family: | †Brithopodidae |
| Genus: | †Brithopus
Kutorga, 1838 |
| Species: | †B. priscus |
| Binomial name | |
| †Brithopus priscus
Kutorga, 1838 | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Brithopus is an extinct genus of dinocephalian therapsids. It contains a single species, Brithopus priscus, known from fragmentary remains found in the Copper Sandstones near Isheevo, Russia.
Description[]
Brithopus was fairly large, reaching a length of 2.5–3 m (8–10 ft). The skull was similar to Titanophoneus, but more massive and heavily built.
Classification[]
B. priscus was first named in 1838 and was traditionally classified in the Anteosauria, a group of carnivorous dinocephalians. Brithopusserved as the basis for the family Brithopodidae, which once included many anteosaurian species. Because it is based on fragmentary material, Brithopus is regarded as a nomen dubium by some researchers. Brithopus was later considered a possible estemmenosuchid, a type of herbivorous tapinocephalian therapsid.
Dinosaurus and Eurosaurus have both been considered synonyms of Brithopus.