Bienotherium Explained

Bienotherium is an extinct genus of cynodonts from the Early Jurassic of China discovered by Bian Meinian (Mei Nien Bien). Despite its size, it is closely related to Lufengia, and is the largest tritylodont from the Lufeng Formation in China.[1]

Bienotherium had four incisors, no canines, and back molar-like teeth, which it used to chew tough plant material.[2]

Description

Bienotherium is defined as being big and robust compared to other tritylodonts, and also by exposed maxillaries in the skull, an unusually long diastema and thin zygomatic bone.[1]

Further reading

Chinese Fossil Vertebrates, p. 133

Notes and References

  1. Book: Lucas , Spencer G. . Chinese Fossil Vertebrates. 2001. Columbia University Press. New York City, Chichester, West Sussex. 0-231-08482-X. 133. May 24, 2010.
  2. Book: Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Life. Kitty. Blount. Maggie. Crowley. Kathleen. Bada. Susan. Malyan. Giles. Sparrow. Rosalyn. Thiro. Marek. Walisiewicz. 2008 . 2001. DK Publishing Special Markets. New York City. 978-0-7566-3836-8. 203.