| Erlianhyus Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Clade: | Cetancodontamorpha |
| Genus: | † Erlianhyus Li & Li, 2021 |
| Type species | |
| Erlianhyus primitivus Li & Li, 2021 | |
Erlianhyus is a genus of cetancodontamorph artiodactyl that lived during the Middle Eocene in China. It is monotypic and known from one species, E. primitivus. [1]
The holotype of Erlianhyus (IVPP V 28275) was discovered in strata from the Irdin Manha Formation. Its binomial name is derived from the Erlian Basin, in which it was discovered, and the suffix -hyus, which is often applied to bunodont artiodactyls. The species name, primitivus, refers to it bearing relatively primitive features. [1] Erlianhyus was originally regarded as the sister taxon of a clade containing dichobunids, anthracotheriids and suoids. [1] In 2023, Yu and colleagues performed a phylogenetic analysis that recovered it in a polytomy with Andrewsarchus and Achaenodon . [2]
Erlianhyus is known from a partial maxilla that preserves teeth P3–M3. The molars are bunodont and bear weak cristae, similar to entelodontids. [1] Similarly M1 in both Erlianhyus and entelodonts lacks lingual cingulum. However, the molars have a large and lingually-positioned metaconule and the postmetaconule crista on M1 and M2 are distinct, suggesting that it does not belong to that clade. [2]
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