Directory of Synapsids Resources

Home > Science > Earth Sciences > Paleontology > Vertebrates > Synapsids

The Synapsids, or mammal-like reptiles, were the dominant land animals of the late Palaeozoic and early Triassic. They include mammals and their ancestors, the pelycosaurs, therapsids and cynodonts. They are distinguished by the position of temporal openings in the skull behind the eyes which provides an anchor for jaw muscles, resulting in stronger jaws.

Resources in This Category

• Ask a Biologist Q&A: Synapsid Skin

  http://www.askabiologist.org.uk/punbb/viewtopic.php?id=1286
  Forum thread discussing where the non-mammalian synapsids stand in the transition from reptilian scales to mammalian hair.

• Dicynodontia

  http://palaeo.gly.bris.ac.uk/Palaeofiles/Fossilgroups/dicynodontia/title%20page.html
  Illustration and information on the characters and anatomy, major subgroups, fossil record and evolution of these herbivores.

• Dinocephalia

  http://palaeo.gly.bris.ac.uk/Palaeofiles/Fossilgroups/dinocephalia/index.htm
  Illustration and information on the characters and anatomy, major subgroups, fossil record and evolution of these carnivorous therapsids.

• Fossil Groups: Diapsids

  http://palaeo.gly.bris.ac.uk/Palaeofiles/Fossilgroups/Diapsida/
  Provides information on this group of amniotes, their characters and anatomy, major subgroups, fossil record, modern forms, literature and weblinks.

• Fossil Groups: Synapsida

  http://palaeo.gly.bris.ac.uk/Palaeofiles/Fossilgroups/Synapsida/characters.html
  Provides information on the characteristics and anatomy of synapsids with a diagram of a typical early period skull showing the synapsid arch and undifferentiated teeth.

• Introduction to the Synapsida

  http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/synapsids/synapsida.html
  Information on this great vertebrate group with a 300 million year history, their fossil record, life history, ecology, systematics and morphology.

• Synapsid

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synapsids
  Information from Wikipedia on this group of reptiles, their changing classification, characteristics and evolutionary history.

• Synapsida: Mammals and Their Extinct Relatives

  http://tolweb.org/tree?group=Synapsida&contgroup=Amniota
  Information from the Tree of Life Web Project on the synapsids which include mammals and all extinct amniotes more closely related to mammals than to reptiles.

 

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