Ictidosuchoid

Ictidosuchoid is a term that refers to a group of extinct therapsids that are closely related to the ancestors of mammals.
They are known for having several mammal-like features, such as a secondary palate, a large braincase, and a dentary-squamosal jaw articulation.

Ictidosuchoids lived during the Late Permian and Early Triassic periods, about 260 to 240 million years ago.
They were mostly small to medium-sized animals, ranging from 20 cm to 1 m in length.
They were probably insectivorous or carnivorous, feeding on insects, worms, and small vertebrates.

Some of the most well-known ictidosuchoids are Ictidosuchus, Ictidosuchops, and Microgomphodon.
These genera are classified in the family Ictidosuchidae, which is part of the suborder Ictidosauria.
Ictidosauria is one of the four major groups of therapsids, along with Gorgonopsia, Therocephalia, and Cynodontia.

Ictidosuchoids are important for understanding the evolution of mammals, as they show some of the earliest adaptations that led to the mammalian condition.
For example, they had a more efficient respiratory system, a more complex dentition, and a more advanced nervous system than other therapsids.
They also had a more erect posture and a more flexible spine, which allowed them to move faster and more agilely.

Ictidosuchoids are also interesting for their diversity and survival during the Permian-Triassic extinction event, which wiped out most of the life on Earth.
Ictidosuchoids were among the few therapsids that survived the catastrophe and continued to thrive in the Early Triassic.
They were able to adapt to different environments and climates, and competed with other groups of reptiles and synapsids for resources.

Ictidosuchoid is not a valid name for any living or extinct animal.

It is a term that was used by some paleontologists in the past to refer to a group of therapsids that were closely related to the ancestors of mammals.

However, this term is now obsolete and has been replaced by more precise classifications, such as Therocephalia, Cynodontia, and Mammaliaformes.

Therefore, there is no single answer to where the Ictidosuchoid lived, since it encompasses a diverse range of animals that lived in different times and places.

Some of the earliest therapsids, such as Biarmosuchus and Eotitanosuchus, lived in the Late Permian period, about 260 million years ago, in what is now Russia and South Africa.

Some of the most advanced therapsids, such as Bauria and Microgomphodon, lived in the Early and Middle Triassic period, about 250 million years ago, in what is now South Africa and Brazil.

Some of the mammal-like therapsids, such as Thrinaxodon and Probainognathus, lived in the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic period, about 220 million years ago, in what is now South Africa, Antarctica, and Argentina.

Some of the earliest mammals, such as Morganucodon and Megazostrodon, lived in the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous period, about 200 million years ago, in what is now China, Europe, and Africa.

As you can see, the Ictidosuchoid lived in various continents and climates, from the cold and dry Permian to the warm and humid Jurassic.

They adapted to different ecological niches, from carnivores and insectivores to herbivores and omnivores.

They evolved various features, such as hair, whiskers, and milk glands, that are characteristic of modern mammals.

They were among the most successful and diverse groups of vertebrates in the history of life on Earth.

An Ictidosuchoid is an extinct group of reptiles that resembled badgers.

They belonged to the suborder Therocephalia, which were mammal-like therapsids that lived during the Permian and Triassic periods.

Ictidosuchoids had long snouts, small eyes, and large canine teeth.

They were probably carnivorous or insectivorous, hunting for prey in burrows or crevices.

They had short limbs and long tails, and were probably agile and fast runners.

Some of the known genera of Ictidosuchoids are Ictidosuchus, Ictidosuchops, and Microgomphodon.