Ankistrodon is a type of ancient reptile from the Early Triassic period, which was about 252 to 247 million years ago. It was found in India, specifically in an area known as the Panchet Formation.
Initially, scientists thought Ankistrodon was a theropod dinosaur, which means it was part of a group known for walking on two legs and often having sharp teeth. However, later research showed that Ankistrodon actually belonged to a different group called proterosuchids.
Ankistrodon was first named in 1865 by a famous British zoologist named Thomas Henry Huxley. The type species, which is the main kind of Ankistrodon studied, is called A. indicus.
In the 1970s, one expert suggested that Ankistrodon was the same as another reptile called Proterosuchus. More recently, in 2023, a study found that Ankistrodon might not even be a valid name because its teeth look very similar to those of Proterosuchus, which makes it hard to tell them apart.
Interestingly, another proterosuchid from the same area in India, called Samsarasuchus, was also described in the same study, making it the only confirmed proterosuchid known from India.
In summary, Ankistrodon is an ancient reptile that helps scientists understand the variety of life during the Early Triassic period.