Protuberum
| Protuberum Temporal range: Middle Triassic | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Synapsida |
| Order: | Therapsida |
| Suborder: | Cynodontia |
| Family: | †Traversodontidae |
| Subfamily: | †Gomphodontosuchinae |
| Genus: | †Protuberum Reichel et al., 2009 |
| Species | |
| |
Protuberum is a genus of traversodontid cynodont known from a single species Protuberum cabralensis, from the Middle Triassic of Brazil.[1]
As with all genera of family Traversodontidae, Protuberum was an herbivore, with a specialized grinding action when feeding.[1] The two known specimens were collected a number of years apart from sediments of the Alemoa Member of the Santa Maria Formation in Geopark of Paleorrota, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.[1] The first specimen was collected in 1977 and consists of several ribs and vertebrae. The second specimen, collected in 1989, consists of a partial articulated skeleton and a skull.[1] Both specimens were collected by Father Daniel Cargnin. The genus name is in reference to the large amount of protuberances on the ribs and illia, while the species name is in honor of the Municipality of Novo Cabrais, where the type specimen was collected.[1]