Groebertherium: Difference between revisions
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'''''Groebertherium''''' is a genus of [[dryolestoid]] mammal from the [[Late Cretaceous]] of [[Argentina]]. It isn't closely related to other contemporary dryolestoids, all of which being part of [[ |
'''''Groebertherium''''' is a genus of [[dryolestoid]] mammal from the [[Late Cretaceous]] of [[Argentina]]. It isn't closely related to other contemporary dryolestoids, all of which being part of [[Meridiolestida]], making it a [[living fossil]] within this group.<ref>Harper T, Parras A, Rougier GW. 2018. Reigitherium (Meridiolestida, Mesungulatoidea) an enigmatic Late Cretaceous mammal from Patagonia, Argentina: morphology, affinities, and dental evolution. Journal of Mammalian Evolution.</ref><ref>G. W. Rougier, S. Apesteguía, and L. C. Gaetano. 2011. Highly specialized mammalian skulls from the Late Cretaceous of South America. Nature 479:98-102</ref> |
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==Classification== |
==Classification== |
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Revision as of 14:04, 10 November 2018
Groebertherium is a genus of dryolestoid mammal from the Late Cretaceous of Argentina. It isn't closely related to other contemporary dryolestoids, all of which being part of Meridiolestida, making it a living fossil within this group.[1][2]
Classification
Groebertherium has been consistently recovered as a dryolestoid within Dryolestida and outside of Meridiolestida, though its exact positioning varies among several studies. Rougier 2011, for example, recovers it was a member of Dryolestidae, rendering it a relictual survivor of this clade with a gap of 40 million years in relation to the youngest northern dryolestids,[3] while Rougier 2018 recovers it was slightly closer to Meridiolestida than to northern dryolestoids.[4]
Palaeobiology
Unlike meridiolestidans, it retains a parastylar hook on its molariform teeth. Therefore, it was likely less specialised to transverse (side-to-side) mastication.[5][6] It was rather similar to Dryolestes, indicating a similar tenrec or hedgehog-like lifestyle.[7]
References
- ^ Harper T, Parras A, Rougier GW. 2018. Reigitherium (Meridiolestida, Mesungulatoidea) an enigmatic Late Cretaceous mammal from Patagonia, Argentina: morphology, affinities, and dental evolution. Journal of Mammalian Evolution.
- ^ G. W. Rougier, S. Apesteguía, and L. C. Gaetano. 2011. Highly specialized mammalian skulls from the Late Cretaceous of South America. Nature 479:98-102
- ^ G. W. Rougier, S. Apesteguía, and L. C. Gaetano. 2011. Highly specialized mammalian skulls from the Late Cretaceous of South America. Nature 479:98-102
- ^ Harper T, Parras A, Rougier GW. 2018. Reigitherium (Meridiolestida, Mesungulatoidea) an enigmatic Late Cretaceous mammal from Patagonia, Argentina: morphology, affinities, and dental evolution. Journal of Mammalian Evolution.
- ^ Harper T, Parras A, Rougier GW. 2018. Reigitherium (Meridiolestida, Mesungulatoidea) an enigmatic Late Cretaceous mammal from Patagonia, Argentina: morphology, affinities, and dental evolution. Journal of Mammalian Evolution.
- ^ G. W. Rougier, S. Apesteguía, and L. C. Gaetano. 2011. Highly specialized mammalian skulls from the Late Cretaceous of South America. Nature 479:98-102
- ^ G. W. Rougier, S. Apesteguía, and L. C. Gaetano. 2011. Highly specialized mammalian skulls from the Late Cretaceous of South America. Nature 479:98-102