Post by Infinity Blade on Apr 4, 2015 1:24:00 GMT 5
Didelphodon spp.
Temporal range: Late Cretaceous (Campanian-Maastrichtian: 73-65.5Ma)
Scientific classification:
Domain: Eukaryota
(unranked): Unikonta
(unranked): Opisthokonta
(unranked): Holozoa
(unranked): Filozoa
Kingdom: Animalia
Subkingdom: Eumetazoa
(unranked): Bilateria
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Clade: Eugnathostomata
Clade: Teleostomi
Superclass: Tetrapoda
Clade: Reptiliomorpha
Clade: Amniota
Clade: Synapsida
Order: Therapsida
Clade: Theriodontia
Clade: Eutheriodonta
Suborder: Cynodontia
Clade: Epicynodontia
Infraorder: Eucynodontia
Parvorder: Probainognathia
Superfamily: Chiniquodontoidea
Clade: Prozostrodontia
Clade: Mammaliaformes
Class: Mammalia
Clade: Holotheria
Superlegion: Trechnotheria
Legion: Cladotheria
Sublegion: Zatheria
Infralegion: Tribosphenida
Subclass: Theria
Infraclass: Metatheria
Family: †Stagodontidae
Genus: †Didelphodon
Species: †D. vorax
†D. padanicus
†D. coyi
Didelphodon is an extinct genus of metatherian (a stagodont) that resided in North America during the Late Cretaceous. It was about as large as a Virginia opposum (Didelphis virginiania) and was among the largest mammals of the Mesozoic. The molars performed a shearing action, indicating carnivorous behavior. The hypertrophied blunt premolars indicate durophagous behavior.[1] Somewhat recently, a specimen with the postcranial anatomy preserved was discovered. Prior to this, only the cranial anatomy was known. The postcranial anatomy was described as otter-like and its skull resembling that of a Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harisii). A description paper of this specimen is apparently being prepared.[2] This suggests Didelphodon occupied a niche similar to extant otters.
Skull of Didelphodon.
References:
[1] Mammals from the Age of Dinosaurs: Origins, Evolution, and Structure (By Zofia Kielan-Jaworowska, Richard Cifelli, and Zhe-Xi Luo)
[2] www.rmdrc.com/archives/1618
Temporal range: Late Cretaceous (Campanian-Maastrichtian: 73-65.5Ma)
Scientific classification:
Domain: Eukaryota
(unranked): Unikonta
(unranked): Opisthokonta
(unranked): Holozoa
(unranked): Filozoa
Kingdom: Animalia
Subkingdom: Eumetazoa
(unranked): Bilateria
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Clade: Eugnathostomata
Clade: Teleostomi
Superclass: Tetrapoda
Clade: Reptiliomorpha
Clade: Amniota
Clade: Synapsida
Order: Therapsida
Clade: Theriodontia
Clade: Eutheriodonta
Suborder: Cynodontia
Clade: Epicynodontia
Infraorder: Eucynodontia
Parvorder: Probainognathia
Superfamily: Chiniquodontoidea
Clade: Prozostrodontia
Clade: Mammaliaformes
Class: Mammalia
Clade: Holotheria
Superlegion: Trechnotheria
Legion: Cladotheria
Sublegion: Zatheria
Infralegion: Tribosphenida
Subclass: Theria
Infraclass: Metatheria
Family: †Stagodontidae
Genus: †Didelphodon
Species: †D. vorax
†D. padanicus
†D. coyi
Didelphodon is an extinct genus of metatherian (a stagodont) that resided in North America during the Late Cretaceous. It was about as large as a Virginia opposum (Didelphis virginiania) and was among the largest mammals of the Mesozoic. The molars performed a shearing action, indicating carnivorous behavior. The hypertrophied blunt premolars indicate durophagous behavior.[1] Somewhat recently, a specimen with the postcranial anatomy preserved was discovered. Prior to this, only the cranial anatomy was known. The postcranial anatomy was described as otter-like and its skull resembling that of a Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harisii). A description paper of this specimen is apparently being prepared.[2] This suggests Didelphodon occupied a niche similar to extant otters.
Skull of Didelphodon.
References:
[1] Mammals from the Age of Dinosaurs: Origins, Evolution, and Structure (By Zofia Kielan-Jaworowska, Richard Cifelli, and Zhe-Xi Luo)
[2] www.rmdrc.com/archives/1618