Post by Infinity Blade on May 17, 2015 4:55:51 GMT 5
Palaeocastor spp.
Devil's corkscrew burrow of P. fossor (with skeletal remains towards bottom).
Reconstruction of Palaeocastor Copyright @ Julio Lacerda
Temporal range: Late Oligocene-Early Miocene
Scientific classification:
Life
Domain: Eukaryota
(unranked): Unikonta
(unranked): Opisthokonta
(unranked): Holozoa
(unranked): Filozoa
Kingdom: Animalia
Subkingdom: Eumetazoa
(unranked): Bilateria
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Cephalochordata
Clade: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Clade: Eugnathostomata
Clade: Teleostomi
Superclass: Tetrapoda
Clade: Reptiliomorpha
Clade: Amniota
Clade: Synapsida
Clade: Eupelycosauria
Clade: Sphenacodontia
Clade: Sphenacodontoidea
Clade/Order: Therapsida
Clade: Neotherapsida
Clade: Theriodontia
Clade: Eutheriodontia
Clade/Suborder: Cynodontia
Clade: Epicyonodontia
Infraorder: Eucynodontia
Clade: Probainognathia
Superfamily: Chiniquodontoidea
Clade: Prozostrodontia
Clade: Mammaliformes
Class: Mammalia
Subclass: Theria
Infraclass: Placentalia
Subcohort: Exafroplacentalia
Magnorder: Boreoeutheria
Superorder: Euarchontoglires
(unranked): Glires
Order: Rodentia
Suborder: Castorimorpha
Superfamily: Castoroidea
Family: Castoridae
Subfamily: †Palaeocastorinae
Genus: †Palaeocastor
Species: †P. fossor
†P. peninsulatus
Palaeocastor ("ancient beaver") is an extinct genus of beaver that lived in South Dakota (particularly in Badlands National Park) from the late Oligocene to early Miocene epochs.
Description:
Unlike extant beavers, Palaeocastor was a terrestrial animal that lived in deep, helix-shaped, vertically-oriented burrows. These burrows are known as Daemonelix; "Devil's corkscrews".[1] The identity/exact nature of the Daemonelix has been a matter of debate until a fossil of Palaeocastor was found in one.[2] Alleged claw marks in the burrows turned out to be incisor marks.[3]
Popular culture:
Palaeocastor was referenced (though not directly mentioned) in an episode of BBC's 1992 documentary The Velvet Claw. It was stated to have been preyed upon by some species of mustelid (likely referring to Zodiolestes daemonelixensis); in fact, this mustelid was apparently specialized in hunting Palaeocastor. The documentary likewise stated that when Palaeocastor went extinct Z. daemonelixensis did too, thus making this an alleged instance of coextinction.
References:
[1] Greg John Retallack (1983). Late Eocene and Oligocene Paleosols from Badlands National Park, South Dakota.
[2] W. Lee Stokes (1982). Essentials of Earth History 4th Edition. pp. 127-129.
[3] hoopermuseum.earthsci.carleton.ca/Burrowsite/fossil4.htm
Devil's corkscrew burrow of P. fossor (with skeletal remains towards bottom).
Reconstruction of Palaeocastor Copyright @ Julio Lacerda
Temporal range: Late Oligocene-Early Miocene
Scientific classification:
Life
Domain: Eukaryota
(unranked): Unikonta
(unranked): Opisthokonta
(unranked): Holozoa
(unranked): Filozoa
Kingdom: Animalia
Subkingdom: Eumetazoa
(unranked): Bilateria
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Cephalochordata
Clade: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Clade: Eugnathostomata
Clade: Teleostomi
Superclass: Tetrapoda
Clade: Reptiliomorpha
Clade: Amniota
Clade: Synapsida
Clade: Eupelycosauria
Clade: Sphenacodontia
Clade: Sphenacodontoidea
Clade/Order: Therapsida
Clade: Neotherapsida
Clade: Theriodontia
Clade: Eutheriodontia
Clade/Suborder: Cynodontia
Clade: Epicyonodontia
Infraorder: Eucynodontia
Clade: Probainognathia
Superfamily: Chiniquodontoidea
Clade: Prozostrodontia
Clade: Mammaliformes
Class: Mammalia
Subclass: Theria
Infraclass: Placentalia
Subcohort: Exafroplacentalia
Magnorder: Boreoeutheria
Superorder: Euarchontoglires
(unranked): Glires
Order: Rodentia
Suborder: Castorimorpha
Superfamily: Castoroidea
Family: Castoridae
Subfamily: †Palaeocastorinae
Genus: †Palaeocastor
Species: †P. fossor
†P. peninsulatus
Palaeocastor ("ancient beaver") is an extinct genus of beaver that lived in South Dakota (particularly in Badlands National Park) from the late Oligocene to early Miocene epochs.
Description:
Unlike extant beavers, Palaeocastor was a terrestrial animal that lived in deep, helix-shaped, vertically-oriented burrows. These burrows are known as Daemonelix; "Devil's corkscrews".[1] The identity/exact nature of the Daemonelix has been a matter of debate until a fossil of Palaeocastor was found in one.[2] Alleged claw marks in the burrows turned out to be incisor marks.[3]
Popular culture:
Palaeocastor was referenced (though not directly mentioned) in an episode of BBC's 1992 documentary The Velvet Claw. It was stated to have been preyed upon by some species of mustelid (likely referring to Zodiolestes daemonelixensis); in fact, this mustelid was apparently specialized in hunting Palaeocastor. The documentary likewise stated that when Palaeocastor went extinct Z. daemonelixensis did too, thus making this an alleged instance of coextinction.
References:
[1] Greg John Retallack (1983). Late Eocene and Oligocene Paleosols from Badlands National Park, South Dakota.
[2] W. Lee Stokes (1982). Essentials of Earth History 4th Edition. pp. 127-129.
[3] hoopermuseum.earthsci.carleton.ca/Burrowsite/fossil4.htm
