In News: Recently, A new species and two genera of cynodonts, small rat-like creatures that lived around 220 million years ago, have been discovered in the Tiki Formation in Madhya Pradesh, a treasure trove of vertebrate fossils.
Tiki formation
- In Madhya Pradesh, northern India, the Tiki Formation is a Late Triassic (Carnian to Norian) geologic formation.
- Dinosaur remains are among the fossils discovered in the formation, but none have yet been assigned to a particular genus.
- In the Tiki Formation, phytosaur fossils from the genus Volcanosuchus have also been discovered.
- The Tiki Formation inspired the genera Tikiodon, Tikitherium, and Tikisuchus, as well as the species Rewaconodon tikiensis, Hyperodapedon tikiensis, and Parvodus tikiensis.
- The majority of the Tiki Formation is related to Argentina’s Ischigualasto Formation, Brazil’s upper portion of the Santa Maria Formation, and the overlying lower Caturrita Formation, Madagascar’s Isalo II Beds, Scotland’s Lossiemouth Sandstone, and North America’s lower Tecovas Formation.
Cynodonts: The Study and Importance of a New Species
- The scale, crown shape, and cusp structure of the fossil teeth were studied and compared to previously described cynodonts.
- Cynodonts are significant in evolutionary studies since they are the ancestors of modern mammals.
- We can see how their molar and premolar teeth evolved and changed over time by observing them
- The shape of their crowns indicates that these creatures are intermediate types that are very similar to the mammalian line of evolution.
- Synapsids are a group of egg-laying vertebrates (amniotes) that includes cynodonts and living mammals.
- Cynodonts have a close relationship with living mammals, as shown by their bones.
Source: The Hindu
