Therapsida [a] is a clade comprising a major group of eupelycosaurian synapsids that includes mammals and their ancestors and close relatives. Many of the traits today seen as unique to mammals had their origin within early therapsids, including limbs that were oriented more underneath the body, resulting in a more "standing" quadrupedal ...

Mar 28, 2025 · Therapsid, any member of the Therapsida, a major clade of tetrapods that lived during Permian and Triassic time (from 299 million to 200 million years ago). Therapsids were the stock that gave rise to mammals.

Therapsida is a clade (group) of prehistoric vertebrates that includes modern mammals and their ancient relatives. The name “therapsid” comes from Greek words meaning “beast” and “arch,” a nod to their unique skull structure.

Therapsids (order Therapsida, class synapsid), are "mammal-like reptiles" that flourished from the Early Permian to the Late Triassic periods (c. 275 - 205 million years ago) and are thought to have been the precursors of mammals. Aside from the mammals, all the other lines of descent from the therapsid ancestors have become extinct.

What are Therapsida fossils? Therapsida fossils are the preserved remains or impressions of therapsids, a group of mammal-like vertebrates that lived during the Permian and Triassic periods. These fossils show the transition from reptiles to mammals. Where are Therapsida fossils found?

Therapsida is a group of synapsids that includes mammals and their ancestors. Many of the traits today seen as unique to mammals had their origin within early therapsids, including having their four limbs extend vertically beneath the body, as opposed to …

The therapsids were seriously affected by the P/Tr extinction event.The successful gorgonopsians died out, and the remaining groups were much reduced.. The dicynodonts were now a single family of large stocky herbivores, the Kannemeyeridae. The medium-sized cynodonts (including carnivorous and herbivorous forms), flourished worldwide in the early to middle Triassic.

For virtually the entire history of their study, synapsids have been divided into the basal group Pelycosauria and the derived group Therapsida. Therapsida is actually nested cladistically within the Pelycosauria, and in turn Mammalia is nested within Therapsida, so that both these mammal-like reptile taxa are technically paraphyletic.

The Therapsids were one of the great success stories of the Permo-Triassic. First appearing in the middle or even the early (if Tetraceratops is a member of this group) Permian, they very quickly dominated terrestrial and semi-aquatic environments, filling a number of ecological niches and guilds, including felid, canid, bear, otter, ungulate, and …

Therapsida is a group of prehistoric vertebrates that played a key role in the evolution of mammals. These animals bridge the gap between early reptiles and modern mammals, showcasing a variety of unique traits that set them apart from their ancestors.