| Deccanolestes Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Infraclass: | |
| Genus: | Deccanolestes Prasad & Sahni, 1988 |
| Species | |
Deccanolestes is a scansorial, basal Euarchontan from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) and Paleocene Intertrappean Beds of Andhra Pradesh, India. It may be closely related to Sahnitherium . Deccanolestes has been referred to Palaeoryctidae in the past, but recent evidence has shown that it is either the most basal Euarchontan, [1] as the earliest known Adapisoriculid, [2] or as a stem-afrotherian. [3]
Deccanolestes hislopi is based on an isolated first upper molar (VPL/JU/NKIM/10). A third molar, a lower third premolar, various other isolated teeth, and some postcranial remains have been referred to it. [4]
Deccanolestes robustus is based on an isolated lower first molar. Isolated teeth and some ankle remains have also been referred to it. [5]
Deccanolestes narmadensis is based on an isolated rear molar. [6]
Alongside Bharattherium , Deccanolestes is among the two mammal taxa that survived the KT event in India. [7]