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Teinolophos, from Ancient Greek τείνω ( teínō), meaning "extend", and λόφος ( lóphos), meaning "crest", is a genus of Teinolophidae monotreme that lived during the late Barremian age of the Early Cretaceous. It is known from four specimens, each consisting of a partial lower jawbone collected from the Wonthaggi Formation at Flat Rocks, Victoria, Australia.
The genus name, Teinolophos, means "extended ridge", a reference to its tooth structure. The species name honours the artist Peter Trusler.
Originally, Teinolophos was thought to be a pantotheria. Further research revealed similarities to Steropodon, except in size: the animal was around 10 cm long. It is often listed as a Steropodontidae, though it may be more basal.Thomas H. Rich, James A. Hopson, Pamela G. Gill, Peter Trusler, Sally Rogers-Davidson, Steve Morton, Richard L. Cifelli, David Pickering, Lesley Kool, Karen Siu, Flame A. Burgmann, Tim Senden, Alistair R. Evans, Barbara E. Wagstaff, Doris Seegets-Villiers, Ian J. Corfe, Timothy F. Flannery, Ken Walker, Anne M. Musser, Michael Archer, Rebecca Pian and Patricia Vickers-Rich (2016). "The mandible and dentition of the Early Cretaceous monotreme Teinolophos trusleri". Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology. 40
Teinolophos is deeply divergent within monotreme evolution, so in 2022 it was proposed to move it into its own family, Teinolophidae. Stirtodon may be a close relative of Steropodon within Teinolophidae.
The holotype is a partial left dentary known as NMV P208231. An age of approximately 123 million years makes this the earliest known monotreme. The lower molar is broadly similar in morphology to the m2 of Steropodon. The trigonid is compressed and the talonid has no basin. The dentary is about one sixth the size of Steropodon, and wear facets indicate an "orthal" occlusion with the upper molars.
Unlike modern monotremes, Teinolophos lacked a beak.
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