''Pantolambda'' (Greek: "all" (pantos), "lambda" (lambda), in a reference to the shape of upper premolars, similar to the Greek letter lambda) is an extinct genus of

Paleocene The Paleocene ( ), or Palaeocene, is a geological epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from about 66 to 56 mya (unit), million years ago (mya). It is the first epoch of the Paleogene Period (geology), Period in the modern Cenozoic Era (geology), ...

pantodont Pantodonta is an extinct suborder (or, according to some, an order) of eutherian mammals. These herbivorous mammals were one of the first groups of large mammals to evolve (around 66 million years ago) after the end of the Cretaceous. The la ...

mammal. ''Pantolambda'' lived during the middle Paleocene, and has been found both in Asia and North America.

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 ...

mammals, which had to compete with dinosaurs, were generally small insect eaters. ''Pantolambda'' was one of the first mammals to expand into the large-animal niches left vacant by the extinction of the dinosaurs. ''Pantolambda'' and other early pantodonts would quickly evolve into heavy animals such as ''

Barylambda ''Barylambda'' (Greek: "heavy" (baros), "lambda" (lambda) in a reference to larger size than that of ''Pantolambda'') is an extinct genus of pantodont mammal from the middle to late Paleocene, well known from several finds in the Wasatchian (Nor ...

'' and ''

Coryphodon ''Coryphodon'' (from Greek , "point", and , "tooth", meaning ''peaked tooth'', referring to "the development of the angles of the ridges into points n the molars") is an extinct genus of pantodonts of the family Coryphodontidae. ''Coryphodo ...

''. These were the first large browsers, pioneering styles of life later followed by many unrelated groups of mammals: rhinos, tapirs, hippos, ground sloths, and elephants. Pantodonts such as ''Pantolambda'' were definitely not tree dwellers.

Description

''Pantolambda'' was large for a Paleocene mammal, the species ''P. bathmodon'' reached 28 kg in body mass, while ''P. cavirictum'' was as massive as 178.9 kg. A generalized early mammal, it had a vaguely cat-like body, heavy head, long tail and five-toed

plantigrade 151px, Portion of a human skeleton, showing plantigrade habit In terrestrial animals, plantigrade locomotion means walking with the toes and metatarsals flat on the ground. It is one of three forms of locomotion adopted by terrestrial mammals. ...

feet ending in blunt nails that were neither hooves nor sharp claws. The foot bones articulated in a similar way to the feet of hoofed mammals, and the feet were probably not very flexible.

Teeth

The teeth had a

selenodont Selenodont teeth are the type of molars and premolars commonly found in ruminant herbivores. They are characterized by low crowns, and crescent-shaped cusps when viewed from above (crown view). The term comes from the Ancient Greek roots (, ' ...

structure; enamel ridges with crescent-shaped cusps. Selenodont teeth are found in modern grazers and browsers such as cattle and deer, but ''Pantolambdas teeth were low-crowned and indicate a not very specialized diet. ''Pantolambda'' probably ate a mix of shoots, leaves, fungi, and fruit, which it may have supplemented with occasional worms or eggs.

Discovery and species

Fossils of this genus have been found in these

Torrejonian The Torrejonian North American Stage on the geologic timescale is the North American faunal stage according to the North American Land Mammal Ages chronology (NALMA), typically set from 63,300,000 to 60,200,000 years BP lasting . It is usually ...

Tiffanian The Tiffanian North American Stage on the geologic timescale is the North American faunal stage according to the North American Land Mammal Ages chronology (NALMA), typically set from 60,200,000 to 56,800,000 years BP lasting . It is usually co ...

formations at the following localities of the United States: * ''Pantolambda bathmodon'' — nicknamed " ManBearPig" (a reference to a creature from ''

South Park ''South Park'' is an American animated sitcom created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and developed by Brian Graden for Comedy Central. The series revolves around four boysStan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, Eric Cartman, and Kenny McCormickand the ...

'') by some researchers, because it had "five-fingered hands, a bearlike face and the stocky build of a pig" **

Sandoval County, New Mexico Sandoval County () is a county located in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2020 census, the population was 148,834, making it the fourth-most populous county in New Mexico. The county seat is Bernalillo. Sandoval County is part of the ...

(, paleocoordinates ) * ''Pantolambda cavirictum'' **

Park County, Wyoming Park County is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of Wyoming. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 29,624. The county seat is Cody, Wyoming, Cody. Park County is a major tourism destination. The county has ove ...

San Juan County, New Mexico San Juan County () is a County (United States), county located in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, its population was 121,661 making it the fifth-most populous county in New Mexico. Its county ...

** Sandoval County, New Mexico **

Carbon County, Wyoming Carbon County is a county in the U.S. state of Wyoming. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 14,537. Its county seat is Rawlins. Its south border abuts the north line of Colorado. History Carbon County was organized i ...

Fremont County, Wyoming Fremont County is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of Wyoming. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 39,234, making it the fifth-most populous county in Wyoming. Its county seat is Lander, Wyoming, Lander. T ...

* ''Pantolambda intermedium'' **

Hot Springs A hot spring, hydrothermal spring, or geothermal spring is a Spring (hydrology), spring produced by the emergence of Geothermal activity, geothermally heated groundwater onto the surface of the Earth. The groundwater is heated either by shallow ...

/ Washakie County, Wyoming ** San Juan County, New Mexico **

Sweet Grass County, Montana Sweet Grass County is a county located in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,678. Its county seat is Big Timber. The county was founded in 1895. History The Montana Legislature authorized Sweet Grass Coun ...

. Retrieved July 2013.

References

Pantodonta Paleocene mammals Natural history of San Juan County, New Mexico Paleocene mammals of Asia Fossil taxa described in 1882 Prehistoric mammal genera Taxa named by Edward Drinker Cope {{Paleo-mammal-stub