A new Late Triassic traversodontid cynodont (Therapsida, Eucynodontia) from India

Ruberodon is characterized by a robust and deep dentary symphysis, lower dental formula of i3-c1-pc9, procumbent and hypertrophied first lower incisor, a large canine, long diastema between the lower canine and first postcanine, and a high coronoid process at 60° to the horizontal tooth row.

With growth, the symphyseal region became relatively more slender with lengthening of the diastema. Phylogenetic analysis based on 19 taxa and 35 craniodental characters places Ruberodon within the clade containing Gomphodontosuchus , Menadon , Protuberum , Scalenodontoides , and the multispecific Exaeretodon . The new genus forms a sister taxon to E. statisticae and is more advanced than E. riograndensis and E. argentinus based on the presence of a strong coronoid ridge anterior to the masseteric fossa.