Leptictida

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Leptictida
Leptictidium auderiense

Leptictidium auderiense

Temporal occurrence
Upper Cretaceous to Oligocene
Locations
Systematics
Amniotes (Amniota)
Synapsids (Synapsida)
Mammals (mammalia)
Theria
Higher mammals (Eutheria)
Leptictida
Scientific name
Leptictida
McKenna , 1975

The Leptictida are an extinct group of insectivorous mammals that have been handed down in fossils from the Upper Cretaceous and became extinct during the Oligocene .

features

The animals reached a body length of 60 to 90 centimeters. Their muzzle was elongated and possibly ended in a short trunk . The dentition was primitive and consisted of two to three incisors , a canine , four V-shaped premolars and three molars .

The postcranial skeleton is best known from Leptictidium from the middle Eocene , whose well-preserved fossil remains were found in the Messel Pit . Its front legs were much shorter than the hind legs, which suggests a jumping locomotion, similar to that of kangaroos . The tarsal bones of Leptictidium were not suitable for this. The Leptictida probably walked on their hind legs, similar to small theropod dinosaurs , a mode of locomotion that no longer occurs in recent mammals, with the exception of humans. Another unique feature is the extremely long tail, which in Leptictidium is supported by around 40 vertebrae .

Systematics

The anatomy of the skull and limbs of the Leptictida is so original that a relationship to any other group of higher mammals cannot be established.

literature

  • Jordi Augusti, Mauricio Antón: Mammoths, Sabertooths, and Hominids. 65 Million Years of Mammalian Evolution in Europe. Columbia University Press, New York NY et al. 2002, ISBN 0-231-11640-3 .

Web links

Commons : Leptictida  - collection of images, videos and audio files