Kingdom Animalia Suborder Anomodontia Scientific name Suminia getmanovi Rank Genus | Class Synapsida Family Otsheridae Phylum Chordata Order Therapsid | |
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Similar Anomodont, Dromasauria, Galechirus, Therapsid, Otsheria | ||
Suminia getmanovi was an anomodont, a species of Synapsid (stem mammal), that lived 260 million years ago in the late Permian ("zone II"). This anomodont was discovered in Kotelnich on the Vyatka River Russia. It is found in sandstone sediment, so most likely represents a delta-dwelling species, but this is not conclusive, as the specimen may have been washed down river, away from its habitat. S. getmanovi has teeth that are heavily abraded, suggesting plant material of high silica content. More recently found fossils indicate that it led an arboreal lifestyle.
Features
The teeth were quite large for its size containing a single cusp per tooth with many serrations as in a serrated knife. These teeth were replaced throughout its life cycle. The eye socket was fairly large and placed near the temporal opening, separated by a thin postorbital bar. Suminia had grasping hands, which has led researchers to conclude that it was a tree-climbing animal, the earliest known such vertebrate species found thus far.
