Protuberum is an extinct genus of traversodontid cynodonts known from a single species Protuberum cabralense,[1] from the Middle Triassic of Brazil.[2]

Protuberum
Temporal range: Middle Triassic
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Synapsida
Clade: Therapsida
Clade: Cynodontia
Family: Traversodontidae
Subfamily: Gomphodontosuchinae
Genus: Protuberum
Reichel et al., 2009
Species
  • P. cabralense[1] Reichel et al., 2009 (type)

As with all genera of the family Traversodontidae, Protuberum was a herbivore, with a specialized grinding action when feeding.[2] The two known specimens were collected a number of years apart from sediments of the Alemoa Member of the Santa Maria Formation in Geopark of Paleorrota, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.[2] The first specimen was collected in 1977 and consists of several ribs and vertebrae. The second specimen, collected in 1989, consists of a partial articulated skeleton and a skull.[2] Both specimens were collected by Father Daniel Cargnin. The genus name is in reference to the large amount of protuberances on the ribs and ilia, while the species name is in honor of the Municipality of Novo Cabrais, where the type specimen was collected.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ a b The specific name cabralense is "necessarily emended from the original P. cabralensis because Protuberum is a neuter generic name". Kammerer, Christian F. (2014). "Chapter 10. Theriodonta: Introduction". In Christian F. Kammerer; Kenneth D. Angielczyk; Jörg Fröbisch (eds.). Early Evolutionary History of the Synapsida. Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. p. 167. doi:10.1007/978-94-007-6841-3_10.
  2. ^ a b c d e Reichel, Míriam, Schultz , Cesar Leandro, & Soares , Marina Bento 2009 “A New Traversodontid Cynodont (Therapsida, Eucynodontia) from the Middle Triassic Santa Maria Formation of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil” Palaeontology 52(1):229-250