Parvopalus

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Parvopalus
Temporal range: Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian), 100.2–96.6  Ma
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Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Monotremata
Family: Steropodontidae (?)
Genus: Parvopalus
Species:
P. clytiei
Binomial name
Parvopalus clytiei
Flannery et al., 2024

Parvopalus (meaning "small opal") is an extinct genus of monotreme mammal from the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Griman Creek Formation of Australia. The genus contains a single species, P. clytiei, known from a partial left dentary.

Discovery and naming

The Parvopalus holotype specimen, AM F161198, was discovered in 1999 in sediments of the Griman Creek Formation (Wallangulla Sandstone Member) near Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia. The specimen consists of part of the left dentary. [1]

In 2024, Flannery et al. described Parvopalus clytiei as a new genus and species of early monotreme based on these fossil remains. The generic name, Parvopalus, combines the Latin words "parvus", meaning "small", and "opalus", meaning "opal", referencing the opalized preservation style of the holotype. The specific name, clytiei, honours Clytie Smith who has found several opal fossils near the type locality. [1]

Several other monotremes are known from the Griman Creek Formation, including Opalios and Dharragarra —which were described in the same publication as Parvopalus—as well as Kollikodon , Steropodon , and Stirtodon . [1] [2]

Related Research Articles

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Opalios is an extinct genus of monotreme mammal from the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Griman Creek Formation of Australia. The genus contains a single species, O. splendens, known from a fragmentary left dentary.

Dharragarra is an extinct genus of monotreme mammal from the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Griman Creek Formation of Australia. The genus contains a single species, D. aurora, known from a partial left mandibular ramus. Dharragarra was likely more closely related to the living platypus than many other monotremes of the Cretaceous.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ornithorhynchoidea</span> Superfamily of monotreme mammals

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Stirtodon is an extinct genus of monotreme mammal from the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Griman Creek Formation of Australia. The genus contains a single species, S. elizabethae, known from a large isolated premolar. Stirtodon may be the largest toothed monotreme discovered. Several other monotremes are known from the Griman Creek Formation, including Dharragarra, Kollikodon, Opalios, Parvopalus, and Steropodon.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Flannery, Timothy F.; McCurry, Matthew R.; Rich, Thomas H.; Vickers-Rich, Patricia; Smith, Elizabeth T.; Helgen, Kristofer M. (2024-05-26). "A diverse assemblage of monotremes (Monotremata) from the Cenomanian Lightning Ridge fauna of New South Wales, Australia". Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology . 48 (2): 319–337. doi: 10.1080/03115518.2024.2348753 . ISSN   0311-5518.
  2. de Kruijff, Peter (2024-05-26). "'Echidnapus' fossil of potential echidna and platypus ancestor may point to Australian 'age of monotremes'". ABC News . Archived from the original on 2024-05-27. Retrieved 2024-05-27.