Kataigidodon

Kataigidodon ("thunderstorm tooth") is an extinct genus of eucynodont cynodont therapsid that was discovered in the Chinle Formation of Arizona.^[1][2] It is a monotypic genus, with only type species Kataigidodon venetus known.^[1]

Kataigidodon Temporal range: Late Triassic, Norian ~221 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Clade:	Synapsida
Clade:	Therapsida
Clade:	Cynodontia
Clade:	Eucynodontia
Genus:	†Kataigidodon Kligman, Marsh, Sues & Sidor, 2020
Species:	†K. venetus
Binomial name
†Kataigidodon venetus Kligman, Marsh, Sues & Sidor, 2020

Description

The large mental foramen of Kataigidodon venetus is anteroposteriorly longer than it is tall.^[3] It opens on the lateral side of the dentary below the first and second postcanine teeth. The mental foramen is at the anterior end of a shallow lateral fossa. The large size and dimensions of this foramen are distinct from most eucynodonts, where the foramen is small and circular. It most closely resembles those of the traversodonts Boreogomphodon and Arctotraversodon. Anterior to the mental foramen on the lateral dentary surface is a scattering of numerous tiny pits, which represent immature bone grain.^[4]