tritylodontid

Tritylodontids were a successful group of herbivorous cynodonts that lived during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. They are often considered to be among the closest relatives of mammals, or even within the mammal lineage itself, though their exact phylogenetic position is still debated. These animals were characterized by their distinctive molars, which featured three cusps arranged in a triangular pattern, giving them their name. This dental adaptation was well-suited for processing tough plant material.

Tritylodontids were relatively small to medium-sized creatures, with most species estimated to have been less than a meter in length. Their skeletons suggest they were capable of digging, with robust limbs and claws. Fossils have been found across the globe, indicating a wide distribution. They likely occupied a variety of ecological niches as herbivores, feeding on a range of vegetation. Their survival through the Mesozoic Era, a time dominated by dinosaurs, highlights their adaptability. Their extinction at the end of the Cretaceous, alongside many other non-avian dinosaurs, marks the end of their evolutionary lineage.