Bemalambdidae is an extinct family of pantodont mammals known from

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and

Middle Paleocene The Selandian is a stage in the Paleocene. It spans the time between . It is preceded by the Danian and followed by the Thanetian. Sometimes the Paleocene is subdivided in subepochs, in which the Selandian forms the "middle Paleocene". Stratigr ...

of China.

Description

The bemalambdids are, along with '' Harpyodus'' and '' Alcidedorbignya'', the most primitive pantodonts. ''Hypsilolambda'' is known only from a skull and teeth, but ''Bemalambda'' is known from complete cranial and postcranial specimens and the best preserved mammal from Shanghuan. It was dog-sized (a large animal for its era) and omnivorous. Both genera have dilambdodont upper premolars (W-shaped crests on the crowns), one of the characteristics of pantodonts, but their upper molars, unlike in later pantodonts, are almost zalambdodont (V-shaped crests) and transversely elongated with the paracone and metacone (cusp) appressed or connated. On p³-M³, there is a large buccal platform on the crowns, the stylar shelf. An exterior indentation on the buccal side, the ectoflexus, is very deep. The lower cheek teeth are easily recognizable as pantodont. The bemalambdids had a low and short skull with a very small braincase; a prominent sagittal crest and deep temporal fossae, a broad snout; and flaring zygomatic processes. The high coronoid process on the mandible suggest the chewing musculatures was more developed than in later pantodonts. The postcranium was robust, and, judging from a single massive humerus, adapted for digging.

Fossil localities

* the Early Paleocene () of Guangdong, China (

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) (, paleocoordinates ) * the Early Paleocene (65.5 - 58.7 Ma) of Shaanxi, China * the Middle Paleocene (61.7 - 58.7 Ma) of Jiangxi, China. Retrieved July 2013.

Notes

References

* * * * * {{Taxonbar, from=Q15839257 Pantodonts Paleocene first appearances Paleocene extinctions Prehistoric mammal families