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Triconodontidae
Triconodontidae is an extinct family of small, carnivorous mammals belonging to the order Eutriconodonta, endemic to what would become Asia, Europe, North America and probably also Africa and South America during the Jurassic through Cretaceous periods at least from 190–66 mya. Triconodontids can be distinguished from other eutriconodonts by the shape of their molars, which bore three main cusps of roughly equal size. During occlusion, the upper and lower molars interlocked tightly, producing a self-sharpening cutting edge. Historically, the triconodontids were thought to have a different occlusion pattern than other eutriconodonts, with the middle cusp of the lower molar (cusp a) fitting between the middle cusp (cusp A) and the front cusp (cusp B) of the upper molar, as in the basal mammaliaform ''Morganucodon''. However, a 2020 study on '' Priacodon'' suggests that triconodontids occluded their molars in the same manner as other eutriconodonts (so-called "embrasure occlusio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arundelconodon
''Arundelconodon'' is an extinct genus of mammal of the family Triconodontidae, containing the species ''Arundelconodon hottoni''. It is known from multiple dental remains from the Arundel Clay in Maryland, United States, dated to the Early Cretaceous. The remains consist jawbone fragments with premolar, Molar (tooth), molar, and canine teeth. Its anatomic features are intermediate between Jurassic and later Cretaceous triconodonts. The deposits from which it is known represent either a fringe swamp or a floodplain, likely near a coast. Discovery and naming The type specimen of the genus ''Arundelconodon'' was Species description, described by paleontologist Richard L. Cifelli and colleagues in 1999. The type species was named ''Arundelcodon hottoni''. Their description was based on a "remarkably complete" jaw from the Arundel Clay of Maryland, United States. The genus name comes from the words ''Arundel'', in reference to the Arundel Clay where the remains were found (itself na ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eutriconodonta
Eutriconodonta is an order (biology), order of early mammals. Eutriconodonts existed in Asia (including Insular India, pre-contact India), Africa, Europe, North America, North and South America during the Jurassic and the Cretaceous periods. The order was named by Kermack ''et al.'' in 1973 as a replacement name for the paraphyletic Triconodonta. Traditionally seen as the classical Mesozoic small mammalian insectivores, discoveries over the years have shown them to be among the best examples of the diversity of mammals in this time period, including a vast variety of bodyplans, ecological niches and locomotion methods. Classification "Triconodonta" had long been used as the name for an order of early mammals which were close relatives of the ancestors of all present-day mammals, characterized by molar teeth with three main cusps on a crown that were arranged in a row. The group originally included only the family Triconodontidae and taxa that were later assigned to the separate ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Volaticotherini
Volaticotherini is a clade of eutriconodont mammals from the Mesozoic. In addition to the type genus '' Volaticotherium'', it includes the genera '' Argentoconodon'', '' Ichthyoconodon'', and potentially '' Triconolestes''. Since most remains are primarily teeth, they are foremostly diagnosticated by their highly distinctive molars. However, the remains of one species, '' Volaticotherium antiquum'', show that at least some members of this clade were capable of gliding. and '' Argentoconodon'' shares similar post-cranial features that also indicate aerial locomotion. As such, this clade contains some of the oldest known aerial mammals, alongside the various gliding haramiyidans. Definition Volaticotherini is phylogenetically defined as the clade derived from the most recent common ancestor of ''Argentoconodon'', ''Ichthyoconodon,'' and ''Volaticotherium''. History '' Ichthyoconodon'' was the first described member of this group, back in 1995, previously usually ranked among eut ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jugulator Amplissimus
''Jugulator'' is an extinct genus of mammals from the Cretaceous of North America. It contains one species, ''Jugulator amplissimus''. A eutriconodont, it is known from the Cedar Mountain Formation, and is both a large sized and possibly ecologically specialised taxon, showcasing the diversity of mammals in the Mesozoic. Description ''Jugulator'' is known primarily from isolated teeth and dentaries. The species is most distinctive in regards to its large size, being among the largest mammals in the region, some lower molars exceeding 5 mm in length and with an estimated body weight of about 750 g. The medial lower incisor is greatly enlarged, with a mitten-shaped crown that bears sharp cutting surfaces. Phylogeny Always recognised as a triconodontid eutriconodont, the most recent phylogenetic studies recover ''Jugulator'' as the sister taxon of a clade comprising ''Volaticotherium'', ''Ichthyoconodon'', '' Triconolestes'', and ''Argentoconodon'', known as Volaticotherini.A. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alticonodon
''Alticonodon'' is a genus of extinct mammal from the Late Cretaceous of North America. It is one of the geologically youngest known eutriconodonts, and is a fairly more specialised animal than earlier representatives of this clade.R. C. Fox. 1969. Studies of Late Cretaceous vertebrates. III. A triconodont mammal from Alberta. ''Canadian Journal of Zoology'' 47:1253-1256 Description ''Alticonodon'' is currently a monotypic genus, represented exclusively by ''A. lindoei''. It is known from the Milk River Formation deposits of the early Campanian of Alberta, Canada. It is known from two specimens: a dentary fragment bearing two molars, and an isolated lower last molar. Classification ''Alticonodon'' has been consistently recovered as a triconodontid, and more specifically as an alticonodontine, though the latter term may be redundant in relation to the rest of Triconodontidae. Biology Compared to earlier eutriconodonts, ''Alticonodon'' has molars better specialised for shearing. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Meiconodon
''Meiconodon'' is an extinct genus of alticonodontine triconodontid which existed in China during the early Cretaceous period (Aptian/Albian age). It was described by Nao Kusuhashi, Yaoming Hu, Yuanqing Wang, Satoshi Hirasawa and Hiroshige Matsuoka in 2009 and the type species In International_Code_of_Zoological_Nomenclature, zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the spe ... is ''Meiconodon lii''. References Cretaceous mammals Triconodontidae Fossil taxa described in 2009 Extinct mammals of Asia Taxa named by Nao Kusuhashi Taxa named by Yaoming Hu Taxa named by Yuanqing Wang Taxa named by Satoshi Hirasawa Taxa named by Hiroshige Matsuoka Prehistoric mammal genera {{cretaceous-mammal-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Triconodon
''Triconodon'' ("three-coned tooth") is a genus of extinct mammal from the Early Cretaceous of England and France with two known species: ''T. mordax'' and ''T. averianovi''. First described in 1859 by Richard Owen,R. Owen. 1859. Palaeontology. '' Encyclopedia Britannica, 8th ed.'' 17:91-176 . Wagner/P. Wagner it is the type genus for the order Triconodonta, a group of mammals characterised by their three-cusped (triconodont) molar teeth. Since then, this "simplistic" type of dentition has been understood to be either ancestral for mammals or else to have evolved multiple times, rendering "triconodonts" a paraphyletic or polyphyletic assemblage respectively, but several lineages of "triconodont" mammals do form a natural, monophyletic group, known as Eutriconodonta, of which ''Triconodon'' is indeed part of. ''Triconodon'', therefore, is significant in the understanding of the evolution of mammals by originating the understanding of the "triconodont" grade and eutriconodont clad ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eotriconodon
''Eotriconodon sophron'' is an extinct mammal from the Bathonian of England. It has been found in the Kirtlington Mammal bed, a site in Oxfordshire that has wielded numerous mammal fossils. Description The holotype is a right lower molar, M46736. Classification Although originally compared to Triconodontidae, a more recent study has placed it alongside ''Sangarotherium'' and ''Indotriconodon'' as closely related to Volaticotherini Volaticotherini is a clade of eutriconodont mammals from the Mesozoic. In addition to the type genus '' Volaticotherium'', it includes the genera '' Argentoconodon'', '' Ichthyoconodon'', and potentially '' Triconolestes''. Since most remains a .... References Triconodontidae Jurassic mammals of Europe Fossil taxa described in 2016 Prehistoric mammal genera {{Paleo-mammal-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Priacodon
''Priacodon'' is an extinct genus of Late Jurassic eutriconodont mammal from the Alcobaça Formation of Portugal and the Morrison Formation of the midwestern United States. It is present in stratigraphic zones 4–6 of the latter.Foster, J. (2007). "Appendix." ''Jurassic West: The Dinosaurs of the Morrison Formation and Their World''. Indiana University Press. pp. 327–329. The genus contains four known species: ''Priacodon ferox'', ''Priacodon fruitaensis'', ''Priacodon lulli'' and ''Priacodon robustus''. Jaw and teeth A study on the jaw and teeth of ''Priacodon'' suggests that eutriconodonts, while specialised towards carnivory, had a more passive jaw roll than modern therian carnivores. It also demonstrates that embrasure occlusion was present in all eutriconodonts, as opposed to one-to-one patterns as previously assumed for the family Triconodontidae. See also * Paleobiota of the Morrison Formation The Morrison Formation is a distinctive sequence of Late Jurassic sedimen ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Carnivorous
A carnivore , or meat-eater (Latin, ''caro'', genitive ''carnis'', meaning meat or "flesh" and ''vorare'' meaning "to devour"), is an animal or plant whose nutrition and energy requirements are met by consumption of animal tissues (mainly muscle, fat and other soft tissues) as food, whether through predation or scavenging. Nomenclature Mammal order The technical term for mammals in the order Carnivora is ''carnivoran'', and they are so-named because most member species in the group have a carnivorous diet, but the similarity of the name of the order and the name of the diet causes confusion. Many but not all carnivorans are meat eaters; a few, such as the large and small cats (Felidae) are ''obligate'' carnivores (see below). Other classes of carnivore are highly variable. The ursids (bears), for example: while the Arctic polar bear eats meat almost exclusively (more than 90% of its diet is meat), almost all other bear species are omnivorous, and one species, the gia ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Trioracodon
''Trioracodon'' is an extinct genus of Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous eutriconodont mammal found in North America and the British Isles. It was named in 1928 ''T. bisulcus'' is known from the Morrison Formation, where it is present in stratigraphic zone 5,Foster, J. (2007). "Appendix." ''Jurassic West: The Dinosaurs of the Morrison Formation and Their World''. Indiana University Press. pp. 327-329. and three other species from the Purbeck Group in Dorset.Clemens, W.A., 1963. ate Jurassic mammalian fossils in the Sedgwick Museum, Cambridge. Palaeontology, 6(Part 2), pp.373-377. See also * List of prehistoric mammals * Paleobiota of the Morrison Formation The Morrison Formation is a distinctive sequence of Late Jurassic sedimentary rock that is found in the western United States, which has a wide assortment of Taxon, taxa represented in its fossil record, including dinosaur fossils in North America ... References Triconodontidae Berriasian genus extinctions Tithon ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Astroconodon
''Astroconodon'' is an extinct genus of mammal from the Cretaceous of North America. Part of Eutriconodonta, it was a small sized predator, either a terrestrial insectivore and carnivore, or a semi-aquatic piscivore. It is the first Cretaceous eutriconodont found.B. Patterson. 1951. Early Cretaceous mammals from northern Texas. American Journal of Science 249:31-46Zofia Kielan-Jaworowska, Richard L. Cifelli, Zhe-Xi Luo (2004). "Chapter 7: Eutriconodontans". Mammals from the Age of Dinosaurs: origins, evolution, and structure. New York: Columbia University Press. pp. 216–248. . Description The type species is ''A. denisoni''. Known from the Antlers Formation, its type specimen, ''FMNH PM 542'', was first described by Bryan Patterson in 1951. It is a generally rather common species, known from a large quantity of isolated teeth, exhibiting a high degree of variability. Bob H. Slaughter, Astroconodon, the Cretaceous Triconodont, Journal of Mammalogy, Vol. 50, No. 1 (Feb., 1969), p ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
