Tritylodonts

Tritylodonts were an extinct group of mammal-like reptiles that lived during the Mesozoic Era, from the Late Triassic to the Late Cretaceous periods. They are classified within the order Cynodontia, a diverse group of therapsids that are considered to be the direct ancestors of mammals. Tritylodonts are characterized by their highly specialized dental batteries, which consisted of rows of closely packed, flattened teeth in both the upper and lower jaws. These teeth were designed for grinding and chewing tough plant material, indicating that tritylodonts were herbivorous or omnivorous.

Fossil evidence of tritylodonts has been found in various parts of the world, including Asia, Europe, Africa, and North America. Their remains are often found in terrestrial deposits, suggesting they lived in a variety of environments, from forests to open woodlands. These animals were typically small to medium-sized, with some species reaching lengths of up to one meter. Their skeletal features indicate they were quadrupedal and likely agile. Tritylodonts are significant in understanding the evolution of mammalian traits, particularly in their jaw structure and dentition, which show a clear trend towards the development of complex chewing mechanisms seen in modern mammals. Despite their advanced features, they represent a side branch of mammalian evolution, ultimately becoming extinct without giving rise to any modern mammalian lineages. Their extinction may have been due to competition with more advanced mammals that evolved later in the Cretaceous.