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Alticonodontinae
Triconodontidae is an extinct family of small, carnivorous mammals belonging to the order Eutriconodonta, endemic to what would become Asia, Europe, North America and probably also Africa and South America during the Jurassic through Cretaceous periods at least from 190–70.6 mya. Triconodontids can be distinguished from other eutriconodonts by the shape of their molars, which bore three main cusps of roughly equal size. During occlusion, the upper and lower molars interlocked tightly, producing a self-sharpening cutting edge. Historically, the triconodontids were thought to have a different occlusion pattern than other eutriconodonts, with the middle cusp of the lower molar (cusp a) fitting between the middle cusp (cusp A) and the front cusp (cusp B) of the upper molar, as in the basal mammaliaform ''Morganucodon''. However, a 2020 study on ''Priacodon'' suggests that triconodontids occluded their molars in the same manner as other eutriconodonts (so-called "embrasure occlusio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jugulator Amplissimus
''Jugulator'' is an extinct genus of mammals from the Cretaceous of North America. It contains one species, ''Jugulator amplissimus''. A eutriconodont, it is known from the Cedar Mountain Formation, and is both a large sized and possibly ecologically specialised taxon, showcasing the diversity of mammals in the Mesozoic. Description ''Jugulator'' is known primarily from isolated teeth and dentaries. The species is most distinctive in regards to its large size, being among the largest mammals in the region, some lower molars exceeding 5 mm in length and with an estimated body weight of about 750 g. The medial lower incisor is greatly enlarged, with a mitten-shaped crown that bears sharp cutting surfaces. Phylogeny Always recognised as a triconodontid eutriconodont, the most recent phylogenetic studies recover ''Jugulator'' as the sister taxon of a clade comprising ''Volaticotherium'', '' Ichthyoconodon'', '' Triconolestes'', and '' Argentoconodon'', known as Volaticotherini ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |