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Today's new drawing is a Cynodont from the Triassic Period.
Cynodont from the Triassic
This drawing is inspired by the new discovery of a Cynodont from the Triassic Period. The Triassic Period is the first period of three periods in the Mesozoic Era. The Mesozoic Era is the era of dinosaurs. But these early Cynodonts are the ancestors of modern mammals. In fact, technically all mammals are cynodonts.
This small Cynodont was named Kataigidodon venetus. The fossil of this small animal was found in Arizona. It was only about 3.5 inches or 9 cm long. It would have appeared to be something like a small rat or maybe a mouse. Those measurements do not include the tail. . . only the body length. Later on in the evolutionary history of the Earth Cynodonts got larger.
Kataigidodon was probably avoiding the early dinosaurs, like the Coelophysis you see in the distance but this small Cynodont was also a carnivore because it had canine teeth and probably fed on small invertebrates like worms and insects. In fact, the term "cynodont" means "dog tooth."
The early Pterosaur you see in the air is a Caelestiventus. It is also a recent discovery. It was discovered in the Saints and Sinners Quarry in Eastern Utah by BYU paleontologist Dr. Brooks Britt. I am a graduate of BYU and Brooks Britt took my wife and I and a bunch of BYU Geology alumni to see that quarry a few years ago. We even could see a Coelophysis skull still in the rock. Below are a few photos of fossils from that quarry.
Coelophysis bones at the Saints and Sinner Quarry
These are bones of a Coelophysis skull at the quarry.
By the way, BYU stands for Brigham Young Univerisity in Provo, Utah, USA.
NOTE: This drawing, in printable form, can be found by clicking on the top button labeled "Paleontology." Then scroll down to the bottom of the list of drawings to get to this new drawing.
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