B. priscus was first named in 1838 and was traditionally classified in the
Anteosauria, a group of carnivorous dinocephalians.
Brithopus served as the basis for the family Brithopodidae, which once included many anteosaurian species. Because it is based on fragmentary material,
Brithopus is regarded as a
nomen dubium by some researchers.
Brithopus was later considered a possible
estemmenosuchid, a type of herbivorous
tapinocephalian therapsid.
Dinosaurus and
Eurosaurus have both been considered synonyms of
Brithopus. ==See also==