Melanedaphodon

Melanedaphodon
Temporal range: Late Carboniferous, Moscovian
Holotype specimen
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Synapsida
Clade: Sphenacomorpha
Family: Edaphosauridae
Genus: Melanedaphodon
Mann et al., 2023
Type species
Melanedaphodon hovaneci
Mann et al., 2023

Melanedaphodon (meaning "black pavement tooth") is a genus of edaphosaurid synapsids that lived in North America during the Late Carboniferous epoch, during the Moscovian stage. The genus contains the type species, Melanedaphodon hovaneci, named and described in 2023 based on the holotype specimen hailing from the Allegheny Group. Several of the anatomical traits of Melanedaphodon are interpreted as suited for omnivory and low-fibre herbivory.[1]

Life reconstruction of Melanedaphodon, consuming both plant and animal resources
  1. ^ Mann, A.; Henrici, A. C.; Sues, H.-D.; Pierce, S. E. (2023). "A new Carboniferous edaphosaurid and the origin of herbivory in mammal forerunners". Scientific Reports. 13 (4459): 4459. Bibcode:2023NatSR..13.4459M. doi:10.1038/s41598-023-30626-8. PMC 10076360. PMID 37019927.