Taeniodonta

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Taeniodonta
Skull of Stylinodon

Skull of Stylinodon

Temporal occurrence
Paleocene to Eocene
65 to 40 million years
Locations
Systematics
Amniotes (Amniota)
Synapsids (Synapsida)
Mammals (mammalia)
Theria
Higher mammals (Eutheria)
Taeniodonta
Scientific name
Taeniodonta
Cope , 1876

The Taeniodonta are an extinct group of mammals that lived from the Early Paleocene to the Middle Eocene and are only known from North America . The body size of the Taeniodonta varied from 5 kilograms for the earlier representatives to over 100 kilograms for the heaviest species.

The earlier representatives like Onychodectes were characterized by a generalized physique and were probably omnivores. The canines were enlarged and the molars had a high crown. The physique suggests that they were good at climbing and possibly had a lifestyle similar to that of the possums .

The later representatives, of which Stylinodon is probably the best known species, were larger and had a significantly stronger skull structure. The upper incisors were enlarged and rootless. The canine teeth were also significantly enlarged and chisel-like, the molars had a pointed shape. The strong front legs had long, flat claws. The body structure of these animals is similar to that of the aardvark , but the teeth indicate that they primarily nourished themselves on roots and tubers that they dug out of the ground.

Relationships with other mammal groups are unclear, they are often viewed as relatives of the Palaeoryctidae or Pantolestidae , two extinct groups with also unclear affiliations. Sometimes they are integrated into the large group of the Cimolesta , which, however, probably does not represent a natural group, but only serves as a "wastebasket" for some unassignable taxa.

literature

  • TS Kemp: The Origin & Evolution of Mammals. Oxford University Press, Oxford 2005. ISBN 0198507615

Web links

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