Cimolodon

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Cimolodon
Temporal range: Late Cretaceous
Cimolodon nitidus Plagiaulacoid premolars.jpg
Premolar of Cimolodon nitidus, view from the outside
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Multituberculata
Family: Cimolodontidae
Genus: Cimolodon
Marsh, 1889
Species
  • C. akersteniWeaver, Wilson, Krumenacker, McLaughlin, Moore, and Varricchio, 2019 [1]
  • C. electusFox, 1971
  • C. nitidusMarsh, 1889 (type)
  • C. parvusMarsh, 1892
  • C. peregrinusDonohue, Wilson, and Breithaupt, 2013 [2]
  • C. similisFox, 1971
  • C. wardiEaton, 2006 [3]

Cimolodon is a genus of the extinct mammal order of Multituberculata within the suborder Cimolodonta and the family Cimolodontidae. Specimens are known from the Late Cretaceous of North America.

Contents

Taxonomy

The genus Cimolodon was named by Othniel Charles Marsh in 1889. Kielan-Jaworowska & Hurum (2001) noted that Cimolodon seems to be more closely related to members of their "Paracimexomys" group than to other ptilodontoideans. [4]

Species

Cimolodon electus (Fox R.C. 1971) is known from the Upper Cretaceous of the Upper Milk River Formation in Alberta, Canada. Possible finds have been reported from New Mexico. [5]

Cimolodon nitidus (Marsh O.C. 1889) is known from Late Cretaceous strata of the Lance Formation of Wyoming, Utah, Montana and South Dakota (United States) as well as Alberta and Saskatchewan (Canada). Synonyms include Allacodon lentus (Marsh, 1889); Allacodon rarus (Marsh, 1892); Cimolomys bellus (Marsh, 1889); Cimolomys digona (Marsh, 1899); Cimolomys nitidus; Halodon serratus (Marsh, 1889); Nanomyops minitus (Marsh, 1892); Nanomys minitus (Marsh, 1889); and Ptilodus serratus (Gidley, 1909). Cimolodon parvus (Marsh O.C. 1892) is also known from the Upper Cretaceous Lance Formation of Wyoming. [6] [7] A specimen referred to as C. cf. nitidus has been recovered from the Prince Creek Formation. [8]

Cimolodon similis (Fox R.C. 1971) is known from the Late Cretaceous (Santonian-early Campanian) of Alberta and Utah. [9] [10] C. wardi is known from the Wahweap Formation of Utah. [3]

Cimolodon akersteni is known from the Cenomanian-age Wayan Formation of Idaho. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Multituberculata</span> Extinct order of mammals

Multituberculata is an extinct order of rodent-like mammals with a fossil record spanning over 130 million years. They first appeared in the Middle Jurassic, and reached a peak diversity during the Late Cretaceous and Paleocene. They eventually declined from the mid-Paleocene onwards, disappearing from the known fossil record in the late Eocene. They are the most diverse order of Mesozoic mammals with more than 200 species known, ranging from mouse-sized to beaver-sized. These species occupied a diversity of ecological niches, ranging from burrow-dwelling to squirrel-like arborealism to jerboa-like hoppers. Multituberculates are usually placed as crown mammals outside either of the two main groups of living mammals—Theria, including placentals and marsupials, and Monotremata—but usually as closer to Theria than to monotremes. They are considered to be closely related to Euharamiyida and Gondwanatheria as part of Allotheria.

<i>Meniscoessus</i> Extinct genus of multituberculates

Meniscoessus is a genus of extinct multituberculates from the Upper Cretaceous Period that lived in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cimolodonta</span> Extinct suborder of mammals

Cimolodonta is a clade of multituberculate mammals that lived from the Cretaceous to the Eocene. They probably lived something of a rodent-like existence until their ecological niche was assumed by true rodents. The more basal multituberculates are found in a different suborder, "Plagiaulacida", a paraphyletic group containing all non cimolodontan multituberculates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plagiaulacida</span> Extinct suborder of mammals

Plagiaulacida is a group of extinct multituberculate mammals. Multituberculates were among the most common mammals of the Mesozoic, "the age of the dinosaurs". Plagiaulacids are a paraphyletic grouping, containing all multituberculates that lie outside of the advanced group Cimolodonta. They ranged from the Middle Jurassic Period to the early Late Cretaceous of the northern hemisphere. During the Cenomanian, they were replaced by the more advanced cimolodontans.

Paracimexomys is a genus of extinct mammals in the extinct Multituberculata order. Paracimexomys lived during the Cretaceous period. The few fossils remains come from North America. Some Romanian fossils were also tentatively assigned to this genus, though that classification now seems doubtful.

Bryceomys is an extinct mammal that lived during the late Cretaceous period and thus shared the world with dinosaurs. It was a member of the also extinct order of Multituberculata. It was within the suborder of Cimolodonta, and a member of the Paracimexomys group.

Dakotamys is a genus of extinct mammal that lived during the Upper Cretaceous. It shared the world with dinosaurs. This small creature was a member of the also extinct order Multituberculata within the suborder Cimolodonta and was a member of the Paracimexomys group.

<i>Cimexomys</i> Extinct genus of North American mammal

Cimexomys is an extinct North American mammal that lived from the Upper Cretaceous to the Paleocene. For a while, it shared the world with dinosaurs, but outlived them. It was a member of the extinct order Multituberculata and lies within the suborder Cimolodonta. It is perhaps a member of the Paracimexomys group, though it is not certain.

Cedaromys is an extinct mammal which lived during the Upper Cretaceous, at the same time as many dinosaurs. It was a member of the also extinct order of Multituberculata. It's within the suborder of Cimolodonta, and a possible member of the Paracimexomys group.

Nessovbaatar is a genus of extinct mammal from the Upper Cretaceous of Mongolia. It eked out its living in the company of Central Asian dinosaurs. This animal was a member of the extinct order Multituberculata within the suborder Cimolodonta and family Sloanbaataridae.

Bulganbaatar is an extinct genus of early mammals from the Upper Cretaceous.

<i>Kryptobaatar</i> Extinct genus of mammals

Kryptobaatar, also known as Gobibaatar or Tugrigbaatar, is an extinct mammalian genus dating from the Upper Cretaceous Period and identified in Central Asia. This animal was a member of the extinct order of Multituberculata within the suborder Cimolodonta, and was a member of the family Djadochtatheriidae. It lived contemporaneously with some of the dinosaurs. Its skull had a length of perhaps 3 cm.

<i>Catopsalis</i> Extinct genus of mammals

Catopsalis is a genus of extinct mammal from the Paleocene of North America. This animal was a relatively large member of the extinct order of Multituberculata. Most Multituberculates were much smaller.

Mesodma is an extinct genus of mammal, a member of the extinct order Multituberculata within the suborder Cimolodonta, family Neoplagiaulacidae. It lived during the upper Cretaceous and Paleocene Periods of what is now North America. The earliest definitive record is from the late Santonian stage strata of the Straight Cliffs Formation. A single premolar tooth from the lower Cenomanian stage strata of the Cedar Mountain Formation has been tentatively assigned to this genus based on its similarity, but its describers noted that it is unlikely that Mesodma lived during that time.

Cimolodontidae is a family of fossil mammals within the extinct order Multituberculata. Representatives are known from the Upper Cretaceous and Paleocene of North America. The family Cimolodontidae was named by Othniel Charles Marsh in 1889 and is part of the suborder Cimolodonta within the superfamily Ptilodontoidea.

Cimolomyidae is a family of fossil mammal within the extinct order Multituberculata. Representatives are known from the Upper Cretaceous and the Paleocene of North America and perhaps Mongolia. The family is part of the suborder Cimolodonta. Other than that, their systematic relationships are hard to define. Some authors have placed the taxon within Taeniolabidoidea. Kielan-Jaworowska and Hurum (2001) expressly don't.

<i>Cimolomys</i> Extinct family of mammals

Cimolomys is a mammal genus from the Upper Cretaceous of North America. It was a member of the extinct order Multituberculata within the suborder Cimolodonta and family Cimolomyidae.

Essonodon is a mammal genus from the Upper Cretaceous of North America. It was a member of the extinct order Multituberculata and lived towards the end of the "age of the dinosaurs." It is within the suborder Cimolodonta and perhaps the family Cimolomyidae.

Viridomys is a genus of extinct mammal from the Upper Cretaceous of North America. It was a member of the extinct order of Multituberculata, and lived during the Mesozoic, also known as the "age of the dinosaurs." It's within the suborder of Cimolodonta, though its further affinities are unclear.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wayan Formation</span> Stratigraphic Unit in Idaho

The Wayan Formation is a geological formation in Idaho whose strata date back to the latest Early Cretaceous and the earliest Late Cretaceous. Dinosaur, other reptile, mammal, and micro and macro-floral remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation. The lack of extensive outcrops, limited geographic extent, and extreme structural deformation have limited paleontological explorations of the Wayan.

References

  1. Weaver, Lucas N.; Wilson, Gregory P.; Krumenacker, L. J.; McLaughlin, Kayla; Moore, Jason R.; Varricchio, David J. (2019). "New multituberculate mammals from the mid-Cretaceous (lower Cenomanian) Wayan Formation of southeastern Idaho and implications for the early evolution of Cimolodonta". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 39 (2): e1604532. doi:10.1080/02724634.2019.1604532. S2CID   196655261.
  2. S. L. Donohue, G. P. Wilson, and B. H. Breithaupt. 2013. "Latest Cretaceous multituberculates of the Black Butte Station local fauna (Lance Formation, southwestern Wyoming), with implications for compositional differences among mammalian local faunas of the Western Interior". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 33(3):677-695
  3. 1 2 J. G. Eaton. 2006. Late Cretaceous mammals from Cedar Canyon, southwestern Utah. Late Cretaceous Vertebrates from the Western Interior. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 35:373-402
  4. Kielan-Jaworowska Z. & Hurum J.H. (2001). "Phylogeny and Systematics of multituberculate mammals". Paleontology44, p. 389-429.
  5. L. J. Flynn. 1986. "Late Cretaceous mammal horizons from the San Juan Basin, New Mexico". American Museum Novitates 2845:1-30
  6. Marsh (1889), "Discovery of Cretaceous Mammalia." Am. J. Sci.(3), 38, p. 177-180.
  7. Marsh (1892), "Discovery of Cretaceous Mammalia. Pt. III." Am. J. Sci.(3) xliii, p. 249-262.
  8. Thurston, D.K.; Fujita, K. (1994). 1992 Proceedings, International Conference on Arctic Margins. Anchorage, Alaska: U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Alaska Outer Continental Shelf Region. ISBN   978-1125448038.
  9. Fox (1971), Early Campanian multituberculates (Mammalia: Allotheria) from the upper Milk River Formation, Alberta. Canadian Journal of Earth Sci8: 916.
  10. J. G. Eaton, S. Diem, J. D. Archibald, C. Schierup, and H. Munk. 1999. "Vertebrate paleontology of the Upper Cretaceous rocks of the Markagunt Plateau, southwestern Utah". In D. D. Gillette (ed.), Vertebrate Paleontology in Utah, Utah Geological Survey Miscellaneous Publication 99-1:323-333
  11. L. N. Weaver, G. P. Wilson, L. J. Krumenacker, K. Mclaughlin, J. R. Moore, D. J. Varricchio (2019). "New multituberculate mammals from the mid-Cretaceous (lower Cenomanian) Wayan Formation of southeastern Idaho and implications for the early evolution of Cimolodonta". Journal of Verterbrate Paleontology. 39 (2): e1604532. doi:10.1080/02724634.2019.1604532.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

Further reading