Cotylorhynchus (Cup Snout)

Cotylorhynchus

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What is Cotylorhynchus?

Cotylorhynchus was a huge, ancient land animal that roamed the Earth long before dinosaurs appeared. It belonged to a group called synapsids, which are more closely related to mammals than reptiles. Cotylorhynchus was one of the largest land animals of its time and is famous for its unusual, barrel-shaped body.

How big was Cotylorhynchus?

Cotylorhynchus could grow up to 6 metres (about 20 feet) long, roughly the length of a car! It had a short, thick tail and a small head compared to its enormous, rounded body. This made it look quite different from most modern animals.

What did Cotylorhynchus eat?

Cotylorhynchus was a herbivore, which means it ate plants. With its big body and strong jaws, it likely munched on tough, low-growing vegetation. Scientists believe it spent much of its time grazing, just like a modern cow or hippo.

Cotylorhynchus appearance

Cotylorhynchus had a massive, barrel-like body, short legs, and a tiny head. Its skin was probably thick and tough, helping to protect it from the harsh environment. Unlike dinosaurs, Cotylorhynchus stood with its legs sprawled out to the sides, giving it a lizard-like stance.

Where did Cotylorhynchus live?

Fossils of Cotylorhynchus have been found in what is now North America, especially in areas that used to be swampy or river-filled. It lived on land, preferring warm, lush environments with plenty of plants to eat.

Interesting facts

• Its name means "cup snout" in Greek!
• Cotylorhynchus was one of the biggest animals of its time, even bigger than most of its neighbours.
• It lived over 270 million years ago, way before the first dinosaurs appeared.
• Cotylorhynchus is completely extinct, and we only know about it from fossils.

Cotylorhynchus Facts

Pronounced: Cot-ee-lo-RINK-us

Name Means: "Cup Snout"

Length:Up to 6 metres (20 feet) 

Weight: About 1,000 kilograms (about as much as a small car!)

Diet: Herbivore (plant-eater)

Time: Permian Period (about 275–270 million years ago)

Fossils Found: North America

Which family of animals did Cotylorhynchus belong to?

Cotylorhynchus was part of the family Caseidae, a group of large, plant-eating synapsids. These animals are distant relatives of modern mammals, meaning Cotylorhynchus is more closely related to you than to any lizard!

What other animals lived at the same time as Cotylorhynchus?

Cotylorhynchus shared its world with other early synapsids, amphibians, and some of the first reptiles. It lived in the Permian Period, a time when life on land was just starting to get really big and varied.

Cotylorhynchus FAQ

Q1: What is Cotylorhynchus?

A1: Cotylorhynchus is an extinct giant synapsid that lived more than 270 million years ago. It was one of the largest land animals of its era.

Q2: What did Cotylorhynchus look like?

A2: Cotylorhynchus had a huge, round body, a small head, and short, thick legs. It looked a bit like a giant lizard crossed with a hippo.

Q3: How big was Cotylorhynchus?

A3: It could grow up to 6 metres (20 feet) or more in length.

Q4: What did Cotylorhynchus eat?

A4: Cotylorhynchus ate plants, making it a herbivore.

Q5: Where did Cotylorhynchus live?

A5: It lived on land in warm, swampy regions of what is now North America.

Q6: When did Cotylorhynchus go extinct?

A6: Cotylorhynchus went extinct about 270 million years ago, before the rise of the dinosaurs.

Q7: How strong was Cotylorhynchus’s bite?

A7: Its bite wasn’t very powerful; it mainly used its jaws to crop soft plants.

Q8: How is Cotylorhynchus related to modern animals?

A8: Cotylorhynchus is a distant relative of all mammals, including humans.

Q9: Who discovered Cotylorhynchus?

A9: Cotylorhynchus fossils were first described by scientists in the early 20th century.

Q10: Are there any complete skeletons of Cotylorhynchus?

A10: Several well-preserved skeletons have been found, allowing scientists to study its body in detail.