Adelobasileus

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Adelobasileus
Temporal range: Late Triassic, 225  Ma
O
S
D
C
P
T
J
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Pg
N
Adelobasileus cromptoni.jpg
Life restoration
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Synapsida
Clade: Therapsida
Clade: Cynodontia
Clade: Mammaliamorpha
Genus: Adelobasileus
Lucas & Hunt, 1990
Species:
A. cromptoni
Binomial name
Adelobasileus cromptoni
Lucas & Hunt, 1990

Adelobasileus cromptoni is a genus of mammaliamorph cynodonts from the Late Triassic (Carnian to Rhaetian), about 225 - 220 million years ago. It is known only from a partial skull recovered from the Tecovas Formation in western Texas and partial specimens from the Chinle Formation in Arizona, Southern United States.

Contents

Distinct cranial features, especially the housing of the cochlea, suggest that Adelobasileus is a transitional form in the character transformation from non-mammaliaform cynodonts to mammaliaforms. For this reason, it is thought to be a close relative of the common ancestor of all modern mammals. Though formerly classified as a mammal by trait-based taxonomy, it is currently placed outside the crown group containing all true mammals. [1]

References

  1. Rowe, T. S. (1988). "Definition, diagnosis, and origin of Mammalia" (PDF). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 8 (3): 241–264. doi:10.1080/02724634.1988.10011708.

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