Tritylodontomorpha

Tritylodontomorpha is a group of extinct synapsids, a class of mammals that includes therapsids and their ancestors. They lived during the Permian and Triassic periods, approximately 299 to 201 million years ago. Tritylodontomorpha is characterized by their distinctive dentition, which includes a pair of large, canine-like teeth in the upper jaw and a pair of small, peg-like teeth in the lower jaw. These teeth are thought to have been used for crushing and grinding food.

Tritylodontomorpha is divided into two main groups: Tritylodontidae and Eothyrididae. Tritylodontidae is the more basal group, and includes the genus Tritylodon, which is known from several well-preserved specimens. Eothyrididae is more derived, and includes the genus Eothyris, which is known from fewer fossils but is thought to have been more specialized in its diet.

The exact relationships of Tritylodontomorpha to other synapsids are still a topic of debate among paleontologists. Some researchers suggest that they are closely related to therapsids, while others propose that they are more basal and represent an early offshoot of the synapsid lineage. Regardless of their exact position in the synapsid tree, Tritylodontomorpha are an important group for understanding the evolution of mammals and their ancestors.