Cimolodonta is a clade of

multituberculate Multituberculata (commonly known as multituberculates, named for the multiple tubercles of their teeth) is an extinct order of rodent-like mammals with a fossil record spanning over 130 million years. They first appeared in the Middle Jurassic, a ...

mammals that lived from the

Cretaceous The Cretaceous ( ) is a geological period that lasted from about 143.1 to 66 mya (unit), million years ago (Mya). It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era (geology), Era, as well as the longest. At around 77.1 million years, it is the ...

to the

Eocene The Eocene ( ) is a geological epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from about 56 to 33.9 million years ago (Ma). It is the second epoch of the Paleogene Period (geology), Period in the modern Cenozoic Era (geology), Era. The name ''Eocene'' comes ...

. They probably lived something of a

rodent Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the Order (biology), order Rodentia ( ), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and Mandible, lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal specie ...

-like existence until their

ecological niche In ecology, a niche is the match of a species to a specific environmental condition. Three variants of ecological niche are described by It describes how an organism or population responds to the distribution of Resource (biology), resources an ...

was assumed by true rodents. The more basal multituberculates are found in a different suborder, "

Plagiaulacida Plagiaulacida is a group of extinct Multituberculata, multituberculate mammals. Multituberculates were among the most common mammals of the Mesozoic, "the age of the dinosaurs". Plagiaulacids are a paraphyletic grouping, containing all multituber ...

", a

paraphyletic Paraphyly is a taxonomic term describing a grouping that consists of the grouping's last common ancestor and some but not all of its descendant lineages. The grouping is said to be paraphyletic ''with respect to'' the excluded subgroups. In co ...

group containing all non cimolodontan multituberculates. Cimolodonta is apparently a natural (monophyletic) suborder. Remains have been identified from across the

Northern Hemisphere The Northern Hemisphere is the half of Earth that is north of the equator. For other planets in the Solar System, north is defined by humans as being in the same celestial sphere, celestial hemisphere relative to the invariable plane of the Solar ...

. They first appeared during the

Aptian The Aptian is an age (geology), age in the geologic timescale or a stage (stratigraphy), stage in the stratigraphic column. It is a subdivision of the Early Cretaceous, Early or Lower Cretaceous epoch (geology), Epoch or series (stratigraphy), S ...

, and completely replaced the more primitive plagiaulacidans by the early Late Cretaceous. The taxon is recognized as the informal

Paracimexomys group ''Paracimexomys'' is a genus of extinct mammals in the extinct Multituberculata order. ''Paracimexomys'' lived during the Cretaceous period. The few fossils remains come from North America. Some Romanian fossils were also tentatively assigned to ...

and the superfamilies

Djadochtatherioidea Djadochtatherioidea is a superfamily of extinct mammals known from the upper Cretaceous and Paleocene of what is now Central Asia, North America and Europe. They were members of the order Multituberculata. These were very ecologically diverse; s ...

Taeniolabidoidea Taeniolabidoidea is a group of extinct mammals known whose fossils can be found in North America and Asia. They were the largest members of the extinct order Multituberculata, as well as the largest non-therian mammals. '' Lambdopsalis'' even pr ...

, and

Ptilodontoidea Ptilodontoidea is a group of extinct mammals from the Northern Hemisphere. They were generally small, somewhat rodent-like creatures of the extinct order Multituberculata. Some of these genera have a great many species, though remains are gene ...

. Additionally, and of uncertain affinities, are the families

Cimolomyidae Cimolomyidae is a family of fossil mammala within the extinct order Multituberculata. Representatives are known from the Late Cretaceous of North America and Mongolia, from the late Santonian to their extinction at the end of the Maastrichtian. ...

, Boffiidae,

Eucosmodontidae Eucosmodontidae is a poorly preserved family of fossil mammals within the extinct order Multituberculata. Representatives are known from strata dating from the Upper Cretaceous through the Lower Eocene of North America, as well as the Paleocene t ...

Kogaionidae Kogaionidae is a family of fossil mammals within the Extinction, extinct order Multituberculata. Representatives are known from the Upper Cretaceous and the Paleocene of Europe. Having started as island endemics on Hațeg Island during the Upper ...

Microcosmodontidae Microcosmodontidae is a poorly preserved family of fossil mammals within the extinct order Multituberculata. Representatives are known from the Lower Paleocene of North America. The family is part of the suborder Cimolodonta. Other than that, the ...

and the two genera ''

Uzbekbaatar ''Uzbekbaatar'' is a genus of extinct mammal from the Upper Cretaceous of Uzbekistan. It was a member of the extinct order Multituberculata within the suborder Cimolodonta, though its further affinities are unclear. The genus was named by Kiela ...

'' and '' Viridomys''. More precise placement of these types awaits further discoveries and analysis.

Taxonomy

Suborder †Cimolodonta McKenna, 1975 * Superfamily ''

Incertae sedis or is a term used for a taxonomy (biology), taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertainty ...

'' ** Family ''

'' *** Subfamily ''

'' **** Genus ''? Ameribaatar'' Eaton & Cifelli, 2001 **** Genus ''?

Bryceomys ''Bryceomys'' is an extinct mammal that lived during the late Cretaceous period (between 100 and 66 million years ago) and thus shared the world with dinosaurs. It was a member of the also extinct order of Multituberculata. It was within the subor ...

'' Eaton, 1995 **** Genus ''

Cedaromys ''Cedaromys'' ("Cedar mouse") is an extinct mammal which lived during the Upper Cretaceous, at the same time as many dinosaurs. It was a member of the also extinct order of Multituberculata. It's within the suborder of Cimolodonta, and a possible ...

'' Eaton & Cifelli, 2001 **** Genus ''? Dakotamys'' Eaton, 1995; (Early Cretaceous, Central North America) **** Genus ''? Fractinus'' Higgins, 2003 **** Genus '' Halodon'' Marsh, 1889 **** Genus ''

Ptilodus ''Ptilodus'' (meaning "soft-haired") is a genus of mammals from the extinct order of Multituberculata, and lived during the Paleocene in North America. ''Ptilodus'' was a relatively large multituberculate of in length, which is about the same ...

'' (Marsh, 1889) Gidley, 1909 **** Genus ''?

'' Kielan-Jaworowska & Nesov, 1992 **** Genus ''?

Barbatodon ''Barbatodon'' is a mammal genus from the Upper Cretaceous period. It lived in Transylvania at the same time as some of the last dinosaurs and was a member of the extinct order of Multituberculata. It is within the suborder of Cimolodonta, and th ...

'' Rãdulescu & Samson, 1986 * "

" Archibald, 1982 ** Genus ''

Paracimexomys ''Paracimexomys'' is a genus of extinct mammals in the extinct Multituberculata order. ''Paracimexomys'' lived during the Cretaceous period. The few fossils remains come from North America. Some Romanian fossils were also tentatively assigned to ...

'' Archibald, 1982 ** Genus ''?

Cimexomys ''Cimexomys'' is an extinct North American mammal that lived from the Upper Cretaceous to the Paleocene. For a while, it shared the world with dinosaurs, but outlived them. It was a member of the extinct order Multituberculata and lies within the ...

'' Fox, 1971 ** Genus ''

'' Sloan & Van Valen, 1965 sensu stricto? * Family Boffiidae Hahn & Hahn, 1983 ** Genus ''

Boffius ''Boffius'' is a genus of mammal from the Paleocene of Europe, which was named by Vianey-Liaud M. in 1979. It is a member of the extinct order of Multituberculata. Boffius lies within the suborder Cimolodonta and is the only known member of ...

'' Vianey-Liaud, 1979 * Family

Marsh, 1889 sensu Kielan-Jaworowska & Hurum, 2001 ** Genus '' Essonodon'' Simpson, 1927 ** Genus ''

Buginbaatar ''Buginbaatar'' is an extinct genus of mammal from the Upper Cretaceous of Mongolia. It is a member of the extinct order Multituberculata, within the suborder Cimolodonta and family Cimolomyidae. It lived towards the end of the Mesozoic era. The ...

'' Kielan-Jaworowska & Sochava, 1969 ** Genus '' Meniscoessus'' Cope, 1882 ( syn. ''Dipriodon'' Marsh, 1889, ''Tripriodon'' Marsh, 1889, ''Selenacodon'' Marsh, 1889, ''Halodon'' Marsh, 1889, ''Oracodon'' Marsh, 1889) ** Genus ''

Cimolomys ''Cimolomys'' (Greek for "chalk mouse") is a mammal genus from the Upper Cretaceous of North America. It was a member of the extinct order Multituberculata within the suborder Cimolodonta and family Cimolomyidae. The genus ''Cimolomys'' was name ...

'' Marsh, 1889 (syn. ?''Allacodon'' Marsh, 1889; ''Meniscoessus''; ''Ptilodus''; ''Selenacodon'' Marsh, 1889) * Superfamily

Cope, 1887 sensu McKenna & Bell, 1997 & Kielan-Jaworowska & Hurum, 2001 ** Family

Cimolodontidae Cimolodontidae is a family of fossil mammals within the extinct order Multituberculata. Representatives are known from the Upper Cretaceous and Paleocene of North America. The family Cimolodontidae was named by Othniel Charles Marsh in 1889 and ...

Marsh, 1889 sensu Kielan-Jaworowska & Hurum, 2001 *** Genus '' Liotomus'' Lemoine, 1882 *** Genus '' Essonodon'' Simpson, 1927 *** Genus '' Anconodon'' Jepsen, 1940 *** Genus '' Cimolodon'' Marsh, 1889 (syn. ''Nanomys'' Marsh, 1889, ''Nonomyops'' Marsh, 1892) *** Genus ''

Neoliotomus ''Neoliotomus'' is a genus of North American mammal from the Paleocene. It existed in the age immediately following the extinction of the last dinosaurs and was a member of the extinct order Multituberculata. It lies within the suborder Cimolodon ...

'' Jepsen, 1930 ** Family

Ptilodontidae Ptilodontidae is a family of primitive mammals within the extinct order Multituberculata. Representatives are known from the Upper Cretaceous and Paleocene of North America. The Ptilodontidae family was originally named Ptilodontinae and class ...

Cope, 1887 (syn. Ptilodontinae Cope, 1887 sensu McKenna & Bell, 1997) *** Genus '' Kimbetohia'' Simpson, 1936 *** Genus ''

'' Cope, 1881 (''Chirox'' Cope, 1884) *** Genus '' Baiotomeus'' Krause, 1987 *** Genus '' Prochetodon'' Jepsen, 1940 ** Family

Neoplagiaulacidae Neoplagiaulacidae is a family of mammal within the extinct order Multituberculata. Fossil remains are known from the Upper Cretaceous through to the latest Eocene/early Oligocene. Representatives have been found in North America, Europe and Asia. ...

Ameghino, 1890 (syn. Neoplagiaulacinae Ameghino, 1890 sensu McKenna & Bell, 1997) *** Genus '' Mesodma'' Marsh, 1889 *** Genus ''

Ectypodus ''Ectypodus'' is an extinct genus of mammals, containing the species ''E. aphronorus, E. childei, E. musculus, E. lovei, E. powelli, E. szalayi'', and ''E. tardus''. ''Ectypodus'' was an arboreal omnivore, living in the Paleocene to Eocene of N ...

'' Matthew & Cranger, 1921 (syn. ''Charlesmooria'' Kühne, 1969) *** Genus '' Mimetodon'' Jepsen, 1940 *** Genus ''

Neoplagiaulax ''Neoplagiaulax'' is a mammal genus from the Paleocene of Europe and North America. In the case of the latter continent, there may possibly be some slightly earlier, Upper Cretaceous material too. It existed in the age immediately following the e ...

'' Lemoine, 1882 *** Genus ''

Parectypodus ''Parectypodus'' (meaning "besides ''Ectypodus''") is an extinct genus of mammals that lived from Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) to Eocene time in North America. It is a member of the extinct order of Multituberculata, suborder Cimolodonta, fami ...

'' Jepsen, 1930 *** Genus '' Cernaysia'' Vianey-Liaud, 1986 *** Genus '' Krauseia'' Vianey-Liaud, 1986 *** Genus '' Xyronomys'' Rigby, 1980 *** Genus '' Xanclomys'' Rigby, 1980 *** Genus '' Mesodmops'' Tong & Wang, 1994 ** Family

Rãdulescu & Samson, 1996 *** Genus ''

'' Rãdulescu & Samson, 1996 *** Genus ''

Hainina ''Hainina'' is an extinct mammal genus from the latest Cretaceous to the Paleocene of Europe. Genus The genus ''Hainina'' ("from Hainin") was named by Vianey-Liaud M. in 1979. This genus was originally referred to as Cimolomyidae. "We assign ...

'' Vianey-Liaud, 1979 *** Genus '' Kogaionon'' Rãdulescu & Samson, 1996 ** Family

Jepsen, 1940 sensu Kielan-Jaworowska & Hurum, 2001 (syn. Eucosmodontinae Jepsen, 1940 sensu McKenna & Bell, 1997) *** Genus '' Clemensodon'' Krause, 1992 *** Genus '' Eucosmodon'' Matthew & Granger, 1921 *** Genus '' Stygimys'' Sloan & Van Valen, 1965 ** Family

Holtzman & Wolberg, 1977 (syn. Microcosmodontinae Holtzman & Wolberg, 1977 McKenna & Bell, 1997) *** Genus '' Pentacosmodon'' Jepsen, 1940 *** Genus '' Acheronodon'' Archibald, 1982 *** Genus '' Microcosmodon'' Jepsen, 1930 * Superfamily

Kielan-Jaworowska & Hurum, 1997 sensu Kielan-Jaworowska & Hurum, 2001 (syn. Djadochtatheria Kielan-Jaworowska & Hurum, 1997) ** Genus ''?

Bulganbaatar ''Bulganbaatar'' is an extinct genus of early mammals from the Upper Cretaceous. It is a member of the extinct order Multituberculata. It lies within the suborder Cimolodonta and is a member of the superfamily Djadochtatherioidea. The genus ''B ...

'' Kielan-Jaworowska, 1974 ** Genus ''?

Chulsanbaatar ''Chulsanbaatar'' is an extinct genus of mammal from the Cretaceous of Mongolia. It was a member of the order of Multituberculata and is within the suborder Cimolodonta. The genus ''Chulsanbaatar'' was named by Zofia Kielan-Jaworowska in 1974 , ...

'' Kielan-Jaworowska, 1974 ** Genus ''

Nemegtbaatar ''Nemegtbaatar'' is an extinct genus of mammal from the Upper Cretaceous Period of what is now Central Asia. It belonged to the order Multituberculata. ''Nemegtbaatar'' is within the suborder Cimolodonta and is a member of the superfamily Dja ...

'' Kielan-Jaworowska, 1974 ** Family

Sloanbaataridae Sloanbaataridae is a family of fossil mammals within the extinct order Multituberculata. Remains are known from the Upper Cretaceous of Mongolia. These small herbivores lived during the "age of the dinosaurs". This family is part of the suborder ...

Kielan-Jaworowska, 1974 *** Genus '' Kamptobaatar'' Kielan-Jaworowska, 1970 *** Genus '' Nessovbaatar'' Kielan-Jaworowska & Hurum, 1997 *** Genus '' Sloanbaatar'' Kielan-Jaworowska, 1974 ** Family

Djadochtatheriidae Djadochtatheriidae is a family of fossil mammals within the extinct order Multituberculata. Remains are known from the Upper Cretaceous of Central Asia. These animals lived during the Mesozoic, also known as the "age of the dinosaurs". This famil ...

Kielan-Jaworowska & Hurum, 1997 *** Genus ''

Djadochtatherium ''Djadochtatherium'' is a mammal genus that lived in Mongolia during the Upper Cretaceous. It coexisted with some of the late dinosaurs. This animal was a member of the extinct order of Multituberculata. It is within the suborder of Cimolodonta, ...

'' Simpson, 1925 *** Genus ''

Catopsbaatar ''Catopsbaatar'' is a genus of multituberculate, an extinct Order (biology), order of rodent-like mammals. It lived in what is now Mongolia during the late Campanian age of the Late Cretaceous epoch (geology), epoch, about 72 million years ...

'' Kielan-Jaworowska, 1974 *** Genus ''

Tombaatar ''Tombaatar'' is a mammal genus that existed during the Mongolian Upper Cretaceous period. It co-existed with some of the late dinosaurs. This animal was a member of the extinct order Multituberculata, within the suborder Cimolodonta and family ...

'' Kielan-Jaworowska, 1974 *** Genus ''

Kryptobaatar ''Kryptobaatar'', also known as ''Gobibaatar'' or ''Tugrigbaatar'', is an extinct mammalian genus dating from the Upper Cretaceous Period and identified in Central Asia. This animal was a member of the extinct order of Multituberculata within th ...

'' Kielan-Jaworowska, 1970 (syn. ''Gobibaatar'' Kielan-Jaworowska, 1970, ''Tugrigbaatar'' Kielan-Jaworowska & Dashzeveg, 1978) * Superfamily

Granger & Simpson, 1929 sensu Kielan-Jaworowska & Hurum, 2001 ** Genus '' Prionessus'' Matthew & Granger, 1925 ** Family

Taeniolabididae Taeniolabididae is one of the two multituberculate clades within Taeniolabidoidea. Originally basically synonymous with Taeniolabidoidea, it has more recently been found to be a specific clade including ''Kimbetopsalis'', ''Taeniolabis'' and some ...

Granger & Simpson, 1929 *** Genus '' Kimbetopsalis'' Sarah, 2015 *** Genus ''

Taeniolabis ''Taeniolabis'' ("banded incisor") is a genus of extinct Multituberculata, multituberculate mammal from the Paleocene of North America. Description ''Taeniolabis'' is a member of the Taeniolabidoidea, a superfamily of multituberculates that ...

'' Cope, 1882 ** Family Lambdopsalidae Chow & Qi, 1978 *** Genus '' Sphenopsalis'' Matthew, Granger & Simpson, 1928 *** Genus '' Lambdopsalis'' Chow & Qi, 1978

References

External links

* * * * {{Taxonbar, from=Q603912 Cimolodonta, Eocene extinctions Cretaceous first appearances

Taxonomy

References

Further reading

External links