| Archaeoparadoxia Temporal range: | |
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| Holotype mandible of A. weltoni | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | † Desmostylia |
| Family: | † Paleoparadoxiidae |
| Genus: | † Archaeoparadoxia Barnes, 2013 |
| Species | |
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| Synonyms | |
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Archaeoparadoxia is a genus of desmostylian mammal from late Oligocene California. [1] The name derives from the Archaic Greek "archaio" (meaning "from the beginning") and the name of another genus of desmostylian, Paleoparadoxia . [2]
Archaeoparadoxia is relatively small compared to other desmostylians. The limb bones are gracile, and the cranium is small. The holotype specimen is of a subadult, but it is speculated the individual was near adult size. Incisor morphology of Archaeoparadoxia differs from that of Paleoparadoxia and Neoparadoxia , as they are not flattened dorsoventrally. [2]
Archaeoparadoxia is considered to be close to other paleoparadoxiids, such as Neoparadoxia and Paleoparadoxia. [2] Archaeoparadoxia was originally considered a species of Paleoparadoxia, [3] P. weltoni, but the species was split on morphological grounds. [2]
Phylogeny of Paleoparadoxiidae in accordance with Barnes (2011) [2] ;
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