Biology:Prionessus
| Prionessus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | †Multituberculata |
| Family: | †Lambdopsalidae |
| Genus: | †Prionessus |
| Species: | †P. lucifer
|
| Binomial name | |
| †Prionessus lucifer W.D. Matthew and W. Granger, 1925
| |
Prionessus is a genus of extinct mammal from the Paleocene of what is now Central Asia. It was a member of the extinct order Multituberculata within the suborder Cimolodonta and superfamily Taeniolabidoidea. The genus was named by William Diller Matthew and Walter Granger in 1925, and is based on a single species P.lucifer.[1]
Kielan-Jarowoska and Hurum believe that members of the Taeniolabidoidea, such as Prionessus, are all quite similar. For example, they all share a short wide snout and a blocky head [2] so it is probably instructive to look at a close and more commonly occurring relative, Lambdopsalis bulla, a likely burrower.[3][4] Matthew and Granger noted in their discovery that P.lucifer had a robust lower incisor, supportive of this similarity.[5]
Fossil remains have been found in the Late Paleocene Nomogen and Khashat Formations of Gashato, Naran and Nomogen in Bayan Ulan of Mongolia and China . Prionessus fossils range from 59-55 million years ago, through the Thanetian age of the late Paleocene. They were estimated to have had a body mass of about 370 grams (13 oz).[6]
Notes
References
- Dykes, Trevor. "Mesozoic Mammals;Eucosmodontidae, Microcosmodontidae and Taeniolabidoidea, an internet directory". http://home.arcor.de/ktdykes/taenio.htm.
- Kielan-Jaworowska, Zofia; Hurum, J.H. (2001). "Phylogeny and Systematics of Multituberculate Mammals". Paleontology 44 (3): 389-429. doi:10.1111/1475-4983.00185.
- Kielan-Jaworowska, Zofia; Qi, Tao (1990). "Fossorial adaptations of a Taeniolabidoid Multituberculate mammal from the Eocene of China". Vertebrata Palasiatica 28 (02): 83-94.
- Kielan-Jaworowska, Kielan; Sloan, Robert E. (1979). "Catopsalis (Multituberculata) from Asia and North America and the problem of taeniolabidid dispersal in the Late Cretaceous". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 24 (2): 187-197.
- Matthew, W.D.; Granger, W. (1925). "Fauna and Correlation of the Gashato Formation of Mongolia". American Museum Novitates (American Museum of Natural History, New York) (189): 1-12.
- Wilson, Gregory P.; Evans, Alistair R.; Corfe, Ian J.; Smits, Peter D.; Fortelius, Mikael; Jernvall, Jukka (2012). "Adaptive radiation of multituberculate mammals before the extinction of dinosaurs". Nature 483: 457-460. doi:10.1038/nature10880.
Wikidata ☰ Q509731 entry
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