Plinthogomphodon
genus of mammals (fossil)
Plinthogomphodon is an extinct genus of traversodontid cynodonts from the Late Triassic of the eastern United States. Fossils have been found from the Deep River basin of North Carolina, part of the larger Newark Supergroup. It is known from a single eroded snout. The type and only species is P. herpetairus.
Description and history
Plinthogomphodon was named in 1999. The name means "brick molar tooth" in Greek, as it was found in mudstone used to make bricks and its postcanine teeth resemble molars. The type species is P. herpetairus, meaning "companion of reptiles" from the Greek herpeton ("reptile") and hetairos ("companion"). The name alludes to the close proximity of the holotype specimen to the remains of a rauisuchian (Postosuchus alisonae) and a sphenosuchian archosaur (Dromicosuchus) when it was first discovered. It is thought that the Plinthogomphodon had been previously consumed by the Postosuchus, which died and was buried when pursuing the Dromicosuchus.
The holotype only preserves the underside of the snout, as the dorsal surface has eroded away.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Plinthogomphodon” is genus of mammals (fossil). The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Plinthogomphodon, genus and mammals, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “genus of mammals (fossil)” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
Stable identifiers, scientific names and standards terminology offer the best bridge between this overview and specialist evidence. The source revision retrieved here is dated Aug 4, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q3558294. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1999.
Current terminology should not be projected backward without checking the classification used when the underlying evidence was created. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Plinthogomphodon”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Plinthogomphodon primary sources, Plinthogomphodon archive and Plinthogomphodon research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Plinthogomphodon”?
- Which observation, specimen, dataset or publication supports the account?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Plinthogomphodon” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.