Therocephalians: Beast Headed Proto-Mammals

By the second half of the Permian, the dominant Therapsids began to develop increasingly mammal-like features such hair, raised metabolisms and complex teeth. Therocephalians were a good example of this, being a diverse bunch ranging from tiny hedgehog-like insectivores to tiger-sized apex predators.
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[@thedarkmasterthedarkmaster]

Therocephalians may not be as famous as the Gorgonopsids, Dicynodonts, Pelycosaurs, or heaven forbid dinosaurs but they're amazing

[@dr.polaris6423]

They were actually a pretty diverse bunch with really interesting adaptations convergent to true mammals.

[@robwalsh9843]

So many Permian proto-mammals definitely have an otherworldly sci fi-look to them, like creatures from Star Wars. With rausuchians, you can see the physical resemblance to dinosaurs and crocodiles. With therocephalians, you immediately think "What...is....that?"

[@inkynebula]

I LOVE stem mammals! they do not get the attention they deserve. 😢 thank you dr. polaris! ❤

[@dr.polaris6423]

Thanks, that was always the intention of this channel!

[@posticusmaximus1739]

*stem mammals

[@raptorbr_]

They aren't reptiles.

[@chpet1655]

Agree love the Permian and Triassic

[@inkynebula]

​@@posticusmaximus1739 calling synapsids "mammal-like reptiles" is incorrect under the new definition of "reptile", so they are now referred to as stem mammals, and sometimes as proto-mammals, or paramammals I stand corrected, thanks for your comment ❤

[@posticusmaximus1739]

The mammals before mammals!

[@manzac112]

If there was one group of animals that I would take home as a pet, it would be the Therocephalians.

[@melvinshine9841]

Don't know why I never thought about this before, but I wonder if mammals as we know them still would've happened if the Permian/Triassic extinction event never occurred? Now that I think about, vertebrate flight might've never been a thing if archosaurs never got the chance to diversify and give rise to the pterosaurs and dinosaurs.

[@carlosalbuquerque22]

Mammals still developed the ability to fly. In fact I have a few designs for flying therocephalians in a no-Permian extinction AU

[@Massimo2.0-zj1qy]

Non mammalian Synapsids give me uncanny valley vibes

[@dr.polaris6423]

I see what you mean, given that they are essentially so mammal-like in some ways but are still quite alien to our modern eyes.

[@Massimo2.0-zj1qy]

@@dr.polaris6423 also, they are supposed not to be reptiles even though the earliest members of that class were almost identical to reptiles, which gives a greater uncanny valley effect, same thing can be said for reptiliomorphs (the amphibians more closely related to amniotes than to lissamphibians, idk if they are their own class)

[@Lanval_de_Lai]

My brain is all the time searching for the ears

[@marshalmarrs3269]

@@dr.polaris6423the hypothetical scenario of therocephalians rather than cynodonts surviving into the later stages of the Mesozoic and into modern day would be a very interesting idea!

[@Massimo2.0-zj1qy]

​@@marshalmarrs3269we would probably stuff like small rat things that diversify after the cretaceous extinction or giant crocodile-headed bears terrorizing early dinosaurs, the possibilities are infinite though

[@TheAnimalKingdom-tq3sz]

Not gonna lie, Euchambersia was pure nightmare fuel, even if the evidence said the venom isn't real. Imagine camping at night near the canyons and everyone died. It sounded like a Primeval episode.

[@Sawrattan]

It's my favourite animal in Walking with Monsters, in a pretty nightmarish scene through nightvision.

[@harpman476]

Hey Doc, admittedly this was almost two years ago, but do you have any comments on the discovery of Hanyusuchus, the gavialid crocodilian from China, that when extinct around the 15th century. It is crazy to me that despite its recent extinction, it was described just two years ago.

[@Minish4rk360]

My first (and still favorite) spec evo creature was/is a bauriid therocephalian so that clade holds a special place in my heart

[@andythegoatman694]

Im not even going to lie some of these lil ones are adorable in some of these pics.

[@aottadelsei980]

Can you please do a video on Protoceratidae, Litopterna, or Hemicyoninae? I feel like these animals are generally forgotten about and I think they need so love. 🙏

[@bibia666]

Really good channel, with great videos and friendly peoples in the comment section! Three thumbs up👍👍👍 Greetings bibia 👋

[@joeshmoe8345]

Loved it. Thanks a bunch for sharing this with us Big Dog!

[@pabreo]

Outdated but mammal like reptiles still rings in my head

[@thelaughinghyenas8465]

Thank you for the very interesting episode!

[@romazone101]

The rendition of the Regisaurus @ 8:08 by @Extinct_animais is amazing! So many presentations of great paleo art on my new favorite animals.

[@evann1136]

YES I FOUND YOUR CHANNEL AGAIN THANK GOD IVE MISSED YOU AND YOUR GROOVY INTRO FOR YEARS!!!! Happy to see that you still upload!!!!!! AAAAAAA

[@evann1136]

Just subbed on your Patreon because I’m so pumped I found you again. Your videos are perfect and out of many fantastic paleontology KZbinrs, you stand out in quality.

[@cosmo6122]

I love this channel

[@goyoelburro]

I'd like to hear more about hearing in the synapsids of the Permian! I am under the impression that those who had less developed inner ears had to listen with their head on the ground to catch vibrations of moving prey, however I'm just guessing and have never heard a detailed explanation. I'm not sure if it fits into your videos, but I'd be *really interested* in "hearing" (😏) more about this...

[@firefrog101]

your art selection and information are presented well.

[@WaterShowsProd]

It's an odd thing how there are really only 2 periods of prehistorical animals that have really entered the public imagination, the dinosaurs and contemporary archosaurs, and the paleolithic mammals such as mastadons, mammoths, and sabretoothed cats. Other than anachronisitic cameo appearences by dimetrodon, of course. It's curious that other periods of fauna have never been popularised amongst the general public.

[@rafaelcalderabebber1198]

I really love the proto-mammals

[@zergthe6597]

If you happen to cover less known cynodonts, I'd love to hear Trucidocynodon mentioned. It's always fascinated me, and there may be some evidence suggesting it was possibly digitigrade too.

[@hollyodii5969]

Such fascinating creatures!

[@GarGhuul]

Why does it boggle my mind that they could eat AND breathe at the same time?!

[@wallace2286]

hi dok is it possible if you might be able to start a series on tetrapod evolution in a similar vain as you did your alter earth videos where you go over relevant formations and describe the fauna there. It is incredibly difficult to find much information on ancient ecosystems online especially non-Mesozoic one, plus it will put into context the world in which these incredible animals were evolving in.

[@chpet1655]

What you call me ? Oh yeah ? Well you’re a beast headed ProtonMammal ! 😏

[@HassanMohamed-rm1cb]

Hey Dr.Polaris, right after the evolution and the history of the Ornithothoraces, why don't you get to think of a suggestion and creating a KZbin Videos all about the Prehistoric Marine Reptiles called the Mosasauridae (Mosasaurs), the Extinct Prehistoric Relatives of Both the Monitor Lizards and the Snakes in the next couple of weeks to think about that one coming up next?!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️👍👍👍👍👍

[@HassanMohamed-rm1cb]

Hey Dr.Polaris, right after the evolution and the history of the Ornithothoraces, why don't you get to think of a suggestion and creating a KZbin Videos all about the the evolution and the history Prehistoric Marine Reptiles called the Mosasauridae (Mosasaurs), the Extinct Prehistoric Relatives of Both the Monitor Lizards and the Snakes in the next couple of weeks to think about that one coming up next?!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️👍👍👍👍👍

[@brianedwards7142]

Luckily the outro started the same time as Bluey did.

[@Dylan-Hooton]

When will you do cryptids again?

[@tm43977]

These proto mammals

[@slappy8941]

Yes?

[@Denneth_D.]

Well that’s vague wording but yes they are.

[@SoulDelSol]

Cute

[@1998topornik]

One of the most mammalian not mammals.

[@HassanMohamed-rm1cb]

Hey Dr.Polaris, right after the evolution and the history of the Ornithothoraces, why don't you get to think of a suggestion and creating a KZbin Videos all about the the evolution and the history of the Prehistoric Marine Reptiles called the Mosasauridae (Mosasaurs), the Extinct Prehistoric Relatives of Both the Monitor Lizards and the Snakes in the next couple of weeks to think about that one coming up next?!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️👍👍👍👍👍