Argyrolagus

Argyrolagus Temporal range: Early Pliocene (Montehermosan-Chapadmalalan) ~5.3–3.6  Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Argyrolagus palmeri
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	† Polydolopimorphia
Suborder:	† Bonapartheriiformes
Family:	† Argyrolagidae
Genus:	† Argyrolagus Ameghino 1904
Type species
†Argyrolagus palmeri

Argyrolagus is an extinct genus of South American metatherian, belonging to the order Polydolopimorpha from the Early Pliocene Monte Hermoso Formation, Patagonia, Argentina. ^[1]

Jumping on its hind legs, the 15–20-centimetre (5.9–7.9 in) long (without tail) ^[2] Argyrolagus resembled a gerbil or kultarr. It had a long tail for balance, and a narrow head with a pointed snout. Judging from its huge eyes, Argyrolagus was nocturnal. The form of its teeth suggest that it would have fed on desert plants. ^[3] A 2019 study confirmed that Argyrolagus was probably adapted for bipedal jumping and was probably also well adapted for digging. ^[4]

See also

• Argentina portal
• Paleontology portal
• Prehistoric mammals portal

• Chulpasia

References

1. Argyrolagus at Fossilworks.org
2. 新版 絶滅哺乳類図鑑. Yukimitsu Tomida. 30 January 2011.
3. Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 203. ISBN   1-84028-152-9.
4. Abello, María Alejandra; Candela, Adriana Magdalena (2020). "Paleobiology of Argyrolagus (Marsupialia, Argyrolagidae): an astonishing case of bipedalism among South American mammals". Journal of Mammalian Evolution. 27 (3): 419–444. doi:10.1007/s10914-019-09470-z. hdl: 11336/106311 . S2CID   254693227.