Aleodon
Aleodon is an extinct genus of cynodonts that lived from the Middle to the Late Triassic. Relatively few analyses have been conducted to identify the phylogenetic placement of Aleodon, however those that have place Aleodon as a sister taxon to Chiniquodon. Two species of Aleodon are recognized: A. brachyramphus which was discovered in Tanzania, and A. cromptoni which was discovered most recently in Brazil.
| Aleodon Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Synapsida |
| Clade: | Therapsida |
| Clade: | Cynodontia |
| Family: | †Chiniquodontidae |
| Genus: | †Aleodon Crompton, 1955 |
| Type species | |
| Aleodon brachyrhamphus Crompton, 1955 | |
| Other species | |
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The name for the genus Aleodon was created when Alfred W. "Fuzz" Crompton initially discovered the type species, Aleodon brachyramphus. The genus name, "Aleodon" referred to the grinding nature of the postcanine teeth, while "brachyramphus" referred to the relatively short snout of the specimen. The most recently discovered species, A. cromptoni was named after Crompton.