Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

A new phylogeny for basal Trechnotheria and Cladotheria and affinities of South American endemic Late Cretaceous mammals

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Naturwissenschaften Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The endemic South American mammals Meridiolestida, considered previously as dryolestoid cladotherians, are found to be non-cladotherian trechnotherians related to spalacotheriid symmetrodontans based on a parsimony analysis of 137 morphological characters among 44 taxa. Spalacotheriidae is the sister taxon to Meridiolestida, and the latter clade is derived from a primitive spalacolestine that migrated to South America from North America at the beginning of the Late Cretaceous. Meridiolestida survived until the early Paleocene (Peligrotherium) and early Miocene (Necrolestes) in South America, and their extinction is probably linked to the increasing competition with metatherian and eutherian tribosphenic mammals. The clade Meridiolestida plus Spalacotheriidae is the sister taxon to Cladotheria and forms a new clade Alethinotheria. Alethinotheria and its sister taxon Zhangheotheria, new clade (Zhangheotheriidae plus basal taxa), comprise Trechnotheria. Cladotheria is divided into Zatheria (plus stem taxa, including Amphitherium) and Dryolestida, including Dryolestidae and a paraphyletic array of basal dryolestidans (formerly classified as “Paurodontidae”). The South American Vincelestes and Groebertherium are basal dryolestidans.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ameghino F (1891) Nuevos restos de mamíferos fósiles descubiertos por Carlos Ameghino en el Eoceno inferior de la Patagonia austral. Especies nuevas, adiciones y correciones. Rev Arg Hist Nat 1:289–328

    Google Scholar 

  • Archibald JD, Averianov AO (2005) Mammalian faunal succession in the Cretaceous of the Kyzylkum Desert. J Mamm Evol 12:9–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Archibald JD, Averianov AO (2012) Phylogenetic analysis, taxonomic revision, and dental ontogeny of the Cretaceous Zhelestidae (Mammalia: Eutheria). Zool J Linn Soc 164:361–426

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Asher RJ, Sánchez-Villagra MR (2005) Locking yourself out: diversity among dentally zalambdodont therian mammals. J Mamm Evol 12:265–282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Asher RJ, Horovitz I, Martin T, Sánchez-Villagra MR (2007) Neither a rodent nor a platypus: a reexamination of Necrolestes patagonensis Ameghino. Am Mus Nov 3546:1–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Averianov AO (2002) Early Cretaceous “symmetrodont” mammal Gobiotheriodon from Mongolia and the classification of “Symmetrodonta.” Acta Palaeontol Pol 47:705–716

    Google Scholar 

  • Averianov AO, Archibald JD (2003) Mammals from the Upper Cretaceous Aitym Formation, Kyzylkum Desert, Uzbekistan. Cretac Res 24:171–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Averianov AO, Lopatin AV (2008) “Protocone” in a pretribosphenic mammal and upper dentition of tinodontid “symmetrodontans.” J Vertebr Paleontol 28:548–552

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Averianov AO, Lopatin AV (2011) Phylogeny of triconodonts and symmetrodonts and the origin of extant mammals. Dokl Biol Sci 436:32–35

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Averianov AO, Archibald JD, Ekdale EG (2010a) New material of the Late Cretaceous deltatheroidan mammal Sulestes from Uzbekistan and phylogenetic reassessment of the metatherian–eutherian dichotomy. J Syst Palaeontol 8:301–330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Averianov AO, Lopatin AV, Krasnolutskii SA, Ivantsov SV (2010b) New docodontans from the Middle Jurassic of Siberia and reanalysis of Docodonta interrelationships. Proc Zool Inst Russ Acad Sci 314:121–148

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonaparte JF (1986) Sobre Mesungulatum houssayi y nuevos mamíferos cretacicos de Patagonia. Actas IV Congreso Argentino de Paleontología y Bioestratigrafía 2:48–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonaparte JF (1990) New Late Cretaceous mammals from the Los Alamitos Formation, Northern Patagonia. Nat Geogr Res 6:63–93

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonaparte JF (2002) New dryolestidae (Theria) from the Late Cretaceous of Los Alamitos, Argentina, and paleogeographical comments. N Jahrb Geol Paläontol, Abh 224:229–271

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonaparte JF, Soria MF (1985) Nota sobre el primer mamífero del Cretácico Argentino, Campaniano-Maastrichtiano (Condylarthra). Ameghiniana 21:178–183

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonaparte JF, Rougier GW (1987) Mamíferos del Cretacico Inferior de Patagonia, Argentina. IV Congreso Latinamericano de Paleontologia, pp 343–359

  • Bonaparte JF, Van Valen L, Kramartz AG (1993) La fauna local de Punta Peligro, Paleoceno inferior, de la Provincia del Chubut, Patagonia, Argentina. Evol Monogr 14:1–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Broderip WJ (1828) Observations on the jaw of a fossil mammiferous animal found in the Stonesfield Slate. Zool J Lond 3:408–412

    Google Scholar 

  • Butler PM (1939) The teeth of the Jurassic mammals. Proc Zool Soc Lond B109:329–356

    Google Scholar 

  • Butler PM (1972) Some functional aspects of molar evolution. Evolution 26:474–483

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Butler PM (1978) Molar cusp nomenclature and homology. In: Butler PM, Joysey KA (eds) Studies in the development, function and evolution of teeth. Academic, London, pp 441–453

    Google Scholar 

  • Butler PM, Clemens WA (2001) Dental morphology of the Jurassic holotherian mammal Amphitherium, with a discussion of the evolution of mammalian post-canine dental formulae. Palaeontol 44:1–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cifelli RL, Madsen SK (1999) Spalacotheriid symmetrodonts (Mammalia) from the medial Cretaceous (upper Albian or lower Cenomanian) Mussentuchit local fauna, Cedar Mountain Formation, Utah, USA. Geodiversitas 21:167–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Chimento NR, Agnolin FL, Novas FE (in press). The Patagonian fossil mammal Necrolestes: a Neogene survivor of Dryolestoidea. Rev Mus Argentino Cienc Nat 14

  • Chornogubsky L (2011) New remains of the dryolestoid mammal Leonardus cuspidatus from the Los Alamitos Formation (Late Cretaceous, Argentina). Paläontol Z 85:343–350

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clemens WA, Lees PM (1971) A review of English Early Cretaceous mammals. In: Kermack DM, Kermack KA, editors. Early mammals. Zool J Linn Soc 50, suppl 1:103-116

  • Clemens WA, Mills JRE (1971) Review of Peramus tenuirostris Owen (Eupantotheria Mammalia). Bull Br Mus Nat Hist (Geology) 20:89–113

    Google Scholar 

  • Crompton AW (1971) The origin of the tribosphenic molar. In: Kermack DM, Kermack KA, editors. Early mammals. Zool J Linn Soc 50, suppl 1:65-87.

  • Crompton AW, Wood CB, Stern DN (1994) Differential wear of enamel: a mechanism for maintaining sharp cutting edges. Adv Comp Environ Phys 18:321–346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cuenca-Bescós G, Badiola A, Canudo JI, Gasca JM, Moreno-Azanza M (2011) New dryolestidan mammal from the Hauterivian–Barremian transition of the Iberian Peninsula. Acta Palaeontol Pol 56:257–267

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dashzeveg D (1975) New primitive therian from the Early Cretaceous of Mongolia. Nature 256:402–403

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dashzeveg D (1979) Arguimus khosbajari gen. n., sp. n. (Peramuridae, Eupantotheria) from the Lower Cretaceous of Mongolia. Acta Palaeontol Pol 24:199–204

    Google Scholar 

  • Dashzeveg D (1994) Two previously unknown eupantotheres (Mammalia, Eupantotheria). Am Mus Nov 3107:1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Dashzeveg D, Kielan-Jaworowska Z (1984) The lower jaw of an aegialodontid mammal from the Early Cretaceous of Mongolia. Zool J Linn Soc 82:217–227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis BM (2011) Evolution of the tribosphenic molar pattern in early mammals, with comments on the “dual-origin” hypothesis. J Mamm Evol 18:227–244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Engelmann GF, Callison GL (1998) Mammalian faunas of the Morrison Formation. Mod Geol 23:343–379

    Google Scholar 

  • Ensom PC, Sigogneau-Russell D (2000) New symmetrodonts (Mammalia, Theria) from the Purbeck Limestone Group, Early Cretaceous of southern England. Cretac Res 21:767–779

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flynn JJ, Parrish JM, Rakotosamimanana B, Simpson WF, Wyss AR (1999) A Middle Jurassic mammal from Madagascar. Nature 401:57–60

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fox RC (1975) Molar structure and function in the Early Cretaceous mammal Pappotherium. Evolutionary implications for Mesozoic Theria. Canad J Earth Sci 12:412–442

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox RC (1976) Additions to the mammalian local fauna from the upper Milk River Formation (Upper Cretaceous), Alberta. Canad J Earth Sci 13:1105–1118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freeman EF (1976) Mammal teeth from the Forest Marble (Middle Jurassic) of Oxfordshire, England. Science 194:1053–1055

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Freeman EF (1979) A Middle Jurassic mammal bed from Oxfordshire. Palaeontol 22:135–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaetano LC, Rougier GW (2012) First amphilestid from South America: a molariform from the Jurassic Cañadón Asfalto Formation, Patagonia, Argentina. J Mamm Evol 19:235–248

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gelfo JN, Pascual R (2001) Peligrotherium tropicalis (Mammalia, Dryolestida) from the early Paleocene of Patagonia, a survival from a Mesozoic Gondwanan radiation. Geodiversitas 23:369–379

    Google Scholar 

  • Gill PG (2004) A new symmetrodont from the Early Cretaceous of England. J Vertebr Paleontol 24:748–752

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goloboff P (1999) NONA (ver. 1.9). Software published by the author, S.M. de Tucuman, Argentina. Available on-line at www.cladistics.org

  • Goloboff P, Farris JS, Nixon KC (2003) Tree analysis using new technology. Program and documentation available from the authors (and at www.zmuc.dk/public/phylogeny)

  • Gregory WK (1934) A half century of trituberculy, the Cope–Osborn theory of dental evolution with a revised summary of molar evolution from fish to man. Proc Amer Philos Soc 73:169–317

    Google Scholar 

  • Gurovich Y, Beck RMD (2009) The phylogenetic affinities of the enigmatic mammalian clade Gondwanatheria. J Mamm Evol 16:25–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henkel S, Krebs B (1969) Zwei Säugetier-Unterkiefer aus der Unteren Kreide von Uña (Prov. Cuenca, Spanien). N Jahrb Geol Paläontol, Monatshefte 1969:449–463

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu Y-M, Fox RC, Wang Y-Q, Li C-K (2005) A new spalacotheriid symmetrodont from the Early Cretaceous of Northeastern China. Am Mus Nov 3475:1–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu Y-M, Wang Y-Q, Luo Z-X, Li C-K (1997) A new symmetrodont mammal from China and its implications for mammalian evolution. Nature 390:137–142

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu Y-M, Wang Y-Q, Li C-K, Luo Z-X (1998) Morphology of dentition and forelimb of Zhangheotherium. Vertebr PalAsiatica 36:102–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Ji Q, Luo Z-X, Zhang X, Yuan C-X, Xu L (2009) Evolutionary development of the middle ear in Mesozoic therian mammals. Science 326:278–281

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kielan-Jaworowska Z, Dashzeveg D (1989) Eutherian mammals from the Early Cretaceous of Mongolia. Zool Scripta 18:347–355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kielan-Jaworowska Z, Dashzeveg D (1998) Early Cretaceous amphilestid (“triconodont”) mammals from Mongolia. Acta Palaeontol Pol 43:413–438

    Google Scholar 

  • Kielan-Jaworowska Z, Cifelli RL, Luo Z-X (2004) Mammals from the age of dinosaurs: origins, evolution, and structure. Columbia University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Krebs B (1985) Theria (Mammalia) aus der Unterkreide von Galve (Provinz Teruel, Spanien). Berl geowiss Abh A 60:29–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Krebs B (1991) Das Skelett von Henkelotherium guimarotae gen. et sp. nov., (Eupantotheria, Mammalia) aus dem Oberen Jura von Portugal. Berl geowiss Abh A 133:1–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Krebs B (1998) Drescheratherium acutum gen. et sp. nov., ein neuer Eupantotherier (Mammalia) aus dem Oberen Jura von Portugal. Berl geowiss Abh E 28:91–111

    Google Scholar 

  • Krusat G (1969) Ein Pantotherier-Molar mit dreispitzigen Talonid aus dem Kimmeridge von Portugal. Paläontol Z 43:52–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Li G, Luo Z-X (2006) A Cretaceous symmetrodont therian with some monotreme-like postcranial features. Nature 439:195–200

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li C-K, Setoguchi T, Wang Y-Q, Hu Y-M, Chang Z-L (2005) The first record of “eupantotherian” (Theria, Mammalia) from the late Early Cretaceous of western Liaoning, China. Vertebr PalAsiatica 43:245–255

    Google Scholar 

  • Linnaeus C (1758) Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Vol. 1: Regnum animale. Editio decima, reformata. Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm

  • Lopatin AV, Averianov AO (2006a) An aegialodontid upper molar and the evolution of mammal dentition. Science 313:1092

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lopatin AV, Averianov AO (2006b) Revision of a pretribosphenic mammal Arguimus from the Early Cretaceous of Mongolia. Acta Palaeontol Pol 51:339–349

    Google Scholar 

  • Lopatin AV, Averianov AO (2006c) Mesozoic mammals of Russia. In: Barrett PM and Evans SE (eds) 9th International Symposium on Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems and Biota Abstracts and Proceedings Volume. Manchester, pp. 67-70

  • Lopatin AV, Averianov AO (2007a) The earliest Asiatic pretribosphenic mammal (Cladotheria, Amphitheriidae) from the Middle Jurassic of Siberia. Dokl Biol Sci 417:432–434

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lopatin AV, Averianov AO (2007b) Kielantherium, a basal tribosphenic mammal from the Early Cretaceous of Mongolia, with new data on the aegialodontid dentition. Acta Palaeontol Pol 52:441–446

    Google Scholar 

  • Lopatin AV, Maschenko EN, Averianov AO, Rezvyi AS, Skutschas PP, Leshchinskiy SV (2005) Early Cretaceous mammals from Western Siberia: 1. Tinodontidae. Paleontol J 39:523–534

    Google Scholar 

  • Lopatin AV, Averianov AO, Maschenko EN, Leshchinskiy SV (2010a) Early Cretaceous mammals of Western Siberia: 3. Zhangheotheriidae. Paleontol J 44:573–583

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lopatin AV, Maschenko EN, Averianov AO (2010b) A new genus of triconodont mammals from the Early Cretaceous of Western Siberia. Dokl Biol Sci 433:282–285

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luckett WP (1993) An ontogenetic assessment of dental homologies in therian mammals. In: Szalay FS, Novacek MJ, McKenna MC (eds) Mammal phylogeny: Mesozoic differentiation, multituberculates, monotremes, early therians, and marsupials. Springer-Verlag, Inc., New York, pp 182–204

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo Z-X (2007a) Transformation and diversification in early mammal evolution. Nature 450:1011–1019

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luo Z-X (2007b) Successive diversifications in early mammalian evolution. In: Anderson JS, Sues H-D (eds) Major transitions in vertebrate evolution. Indiana University Press, Bloomington, pp 337–391

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo Z-X, Ji Q (2005) New study on dental and skeletal features of the Cretaceous “symmetrodontan” mammal Zhangheotherium. J Mamm Evol 12:337–357

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luo Z-X, Wible JR (2005) A Late Jurassic digging mammal and early mammalian diversification. Science 308:103–107

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luo Z-X, Cifelli RL, Kielan-Jaworowska Z (2001a) Dual origin of tribosphenic mammals. Nature 409:53–57

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luo Z-X, Ji Q, S-a J (2001b) New evidence on dental replacement in symmetrodonts and its implications for mammalian evolution. J Morphol 248:256–257

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo Z-X, Kielan-Jaworowska Z, Cifelli RL (2002) In quest for a phylogeny of Mesozoic mammals. Acta Palaeontol Pol 47:1–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo Z-X, Ruf I, Martin T (2012) The petrosal and inner ear of the Late Jurassic cladotherian mammal Dryolestes leiriensis and implications for ear evolution in therian mammals. Zool J Linn Soc 166:433–463

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luo Z-X, Yuan C-X, Meng Q-J, Ji Q (2011) A Jurassic eutherian mammal and divergence of marsupials and placentals. Nature 476:442–445

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Macrini TE, Rougier GW, Rowe TB (2007) Description of a cranial endocast from the fossil mammal Vincelestes neuquenianus (Theriiformes) and its relevance to the evolution of endocranial characters in therians. Anat Rec 290:875–892

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marsh OC (1878) Fossil mammal from the Jurassic of the Rocky Mountains. Am J Sci 15:459

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsh OC (1879a) Additional remains of Jurassic mammals. Am J Sci 18:215–216

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsh OC (1879b) Notice of new Jurassic mammals. Am J Sci 20:396–398

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsh OC (1879c) Notice of a new Jurassic mammal. Am J Sci 18:1–2

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsh OC (1887) American Jurassic mammals. Am J Sci 33:327–348

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin T (1997) Tooth replacement in Late Jurassic Dryolestidae (Eupantotheria, Mammalia). J Mamm Evol 4:1–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin T (1998) The premolars of Crusafontia cuencana (Dryolestidae, Mammalia) from the Early Cretaceous (Barremian) of Spain. Berl geowiss Abh E 28:119–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin T (1999) Dryolestidae (Dryolestoidea, Mammalia) aus dem Oberen Jura von Portugal. Abh senckenberg naturforsch Ges 550:1–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin T (2002) New stem-line representatives of Zatheria (Mammalia) from the Late Jurassic of Portugal. J Vertebr Paleontol 22:332–348

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin T, Rauhut OWM (2005) Mandible and dentition of Asfaltomylos patagonicus (Australosphenida, Mammalia) and the evolution of tribosphenic teeth. J Vertebr Paleontol 25:414–425

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin T, Averianov AO (2010) Mammals from the Middle Jurassic Balabansai Formation of the Fergana Depression, Kyrgyzstan. J Vertebr Paleontol 30:855–871

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin T, Averianov AO, Pfretzschner H-U (2010) Mammals from the Late Jurassic Qigu Formation in the Southern Junggar Basin, Xinjiang, Northwest China. Palaeobiodiv Palaeoenviron 90:295–319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maschenko EN, Lopatin AV, Voronkevich AV (2002) A new Early Cretaceous mammal from Western Siberia. Dokl Biol Sci 386:475–477

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer H von (1832) Palaeologica, zur Geschichte der Erde und ihrer Geschoepfe. Schmerber, Frankfurt a/M.

  • Mills JRE (1964) The dentitions of Peramus and Amphitherium. Proc Linn Soc Lond 175:117–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mills JRE (1967) Development of the protocone during the Mesozoic. J Dent Res 46:883–893

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mills JRE (1971) The dentition of Morganucodon. In: Kermack DM, Kermack KA, editors. Early mammals. Zool J Linn Soc 50, suppl 1:29-63

  • McKenna MC (1975) Towards a phylogenetic classification of the Mammalia. In: Luckett WP, Szalay FS (eds) Phylogeny of the primates. Plenum Press, New York, pp 21–46

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Montellano M, Hopson JA, Clark JM (2008) Late Early Jurassic mammaliaforms from Huizachal Canyon, Tamaulipas, México. J Vertebr Paleontol 28:1130–1143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nixon KC (1999) Winclada (Beta) version 0.9.9. Software published by the author, Ithaca, NY. Available on-line at www.cladistics.org

  • Osborn HF (1888) On the structure and classification of the Mesozoic Mammalia. J Acad Nat Sci Phila 9:186–264

    Google Scholar 

  • Owen R (1845) Odontography; or, a treatise on the comparative anatomy of the teeth; their physiological relations, mode of development, and microscopic structure, in the vertebrate animals. Part 3. Hippolyte Ballière, London

  • Owen R (1854) On some fossil reptilian and mammalian remains from the Purbecks. Q J Geol Soc Lond 10:420–433

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Owen R (1866) Description of part of the lower jaw and teeth of a small oolithic mammal (Stylodon pusillus Ow.). Geol Mag 3:199–201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Owen R (1871) Monograph of the fossil Mammalia of the Mesozoic formations. Monogr Palaeontogr Soc 33:1–115

    Google Scholar 

  • Páez Arango N (2008) Dental and craniomandibular anatomy of Peligrotherium tropicalis: the evolutionary radiation of South American dryolestoid mammals. Master of Science Thesis, University of Louisville, 107 pp.

  • Pascual R, Ortiz-Jaureguizar EO (2007) The Gondwanan and South American episodes: two major and unrelated moments in the history of the South American mammals. J Mamm Evol 14:75–137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pascual R, Goin FJ, Gonzales P, Ardolino A, Puerta PF (2000) A highly derived docodont from the Patagonian Late Cretaceous: evolutionary implications for Gondwanan mammals. Geodiversitas 22:395–414

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson B (1956) Early Cretaceous mammals and the evolution of mammalian molar teeth. Fieldiana: Geol 13:1–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Prothero DR (1981) New Jurassic mammals from Como Bluff, Wyoming, and the interrelationships of non-tribosphenic Theria. Bull Am Mus Nat Hist 167:281–325

    Google Scholar 

  • Rauhut OWM, Martin T, Ortiz-Jaureguizar EO, Puerta PF (2002) A Jurassic mammal from South America. Nature 416:165–168

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rich THV, Vickers-Rich P, Constantine A, Flannery TF, Kool L, van Klaveren NA (1997) A tribosphenic mammal from the Mesozoic of Australia. Science 278:1438–1442

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rich THV, Vickers-Rich P, Constantine A, Flannery TF, Kool L, van Klaveren NA (1999) Early Cretaceous mammals from Flat Rocks, Victoria, Australia. Rec Queen Victoria Mus 106:1–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Rich THV, Flannery TF, Trusler P, Constantine A, Kool L, van Klaveren NA, Vickers-Rich P (2001) An advanced ausktribosphenid from the Early Cretaceous of Australia. Rec Queen Victoria Mus 110:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Rougier GW, Wible JR, Hopson JA (1996) Basicranial anatomy of Priacodon fruitaensis (Triconodontidae, Mammalia) from the Late Jurassic of Colorado, and a reappraisal of mammaliaform interrelationships. Am Mus Nov 3183:1–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Rougier GW, Ji Q, Novacek MJ (2003a) A new symmetrodont mammal with fur impressions from the Mesozoic of China. Acta Geol Sin 77:7–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rougier GW, Spurlin BK, Kik PK (2003b) A new specimen of Eurylambda aequicrurius and considerations on “symmetrodont” dentition and relationships. Am Mus Nov 3398:1–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rougier GW, Isaji S, Manabe M (2007a) An Early Cretaceous mammal from the Kuwajima Formation (Tetori Group), Japan, and a reassessment of triconodont phylogeny. Ann Carnegie Mus 76:73–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rougier GW, Martinelli AG, Forasiepi AM, Novacek MJ (2007b) New Jurassic mammals from Patagonia, Argentina: a reappraisal of australosphenidan morphology and interrelationships. Am Mus Nov 3566:1–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rougier GW, Apesteguía S, Gaetano LC (2011) Highly specialized mammalian skulls from the Late Cretaceous of South America. Nature 479:98–102

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rougier GW, Chornogubsky L, Casadio S, Páez Arango N, Giallombardo A (2009a) Mammals from the Allen Formation, Late Cretaceous, Argentina. Cretac Res 30:223–238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rougier GW, Forasiepi AM, Hill RV, Novacek MJ (2009b) New mammalian remains from the Late Cretaceous La Colonia Formation, Patagonia, Argentina. Acta Palaeontol Pol 54:195–212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rougier GW, Wible JR, Hopson JA (1992) Reconstruction of the cranial vessels in the Early Cretaceous mammal Vincelestes neuquenianus: implications for the evolution of the mammalian cranial vascular system. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 12:188–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rougier GW, Wible JR, Beck RMD, Apesteguía S (2012) The Miocene mammal Necrolestes demonstrates the survival of a Mesozoic nontherian lineage into the late Cenozoic of South America. Proc Nat Acad Sci 109:20053–20058

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ruf I, Luo Z-X, Wible JR, Martin T (2009) Petrosal anatomy and inner ear structures of the Late Jurassic Henkelotherium (Mammalia, Cladotheria, Dryolestoidea): insight into the early evolution of the ear region in cladotherian mammals. J Anat 214:679–693

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schultz JA, Martin T (2010) Wear pattern and functional morphology of dryolestoid molars (Mammalia, Cladotheria). Paläontol Z 85:269–285

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sigogneau-Russell D (1999) Réévaluation des Peramura (Mammalia, Cladotheria) sur la base de nouveaux spécimens du Crétacé inférieur d'Angleterre et du Maroc. Geodiversitas 21:93–127

    Google Scholar 

  • Sigogneau-Russell D (2003) Holotherian mammals from the Forest Marble (Middle Jurassic of England). Geodiversitas 25:501–537

    Google Scholar 

  • Sigogneau-Russell D, Dashzeveg D, Russell DE (1992) Further data on Prokennalestes (Mammalia, Eutheria, inc. sed.) from the Early Cretaceous of Mongolia. Zool Scripta 21:205–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sigogneau-Russell D, Kielan-Jaworowska Z (2002) Mammals from the Purbeck Limestone Group of Dorset, southern England. Spec Pap Palaeontol 68:21–255

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson GG (1925) Mesozoic Mammalia. II. Tinodon and its allies. Am J Sci, Series 5, 10:45–470

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson GG (1927) Mesozoic Mammalia. VI. Genera of Morrison pantotheres. Am J Sci, Series 5, 13:409–416

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson GG (1928) A catalogue of the Mesozoic Mammalia in the Geological Department of the British Museum. British Museum (Natural History), London

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson GG (1929) American Mesozoic Mammalia. Memo Peabody Mus Yale Univ 3:1–235

    Google Scholar 

  • Sweetman SC (2008) A spalacolestine spalacotheriid (Mammalia, Trechnotheria) from the Early Cretaceous (Barremian) of Southern England and its bearing on spalacotheriid evolution. Palaeontol 51:1367–1385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trofimov BA (1980) Multituberculata and Symmetrodonta from the Lower Cretaceous of Mongolia. Dokl Akad Nauk SSSR 251:209–212 [Russian]

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsubamoto T, Rougier GW, Isaji S, Manabe M, Forasiepi AM (2004) New Early Cretaceous spalacotheriid “symmetrodont” mammal from Japan. Acta Palaeontol Pol 49:329–346

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang S, Wang Y, Hu H, Li H (2001) The existing time of Sihetun vertebrate in western Liaoning, China. Chin Sci Bull 46:779–782

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wible JR, Rougier GW, Novacek MJ, McKenna MC (2001) Earliest eutherian ear region: a petrosal referred to Prokennalestes from the Early Cretaceous of Mongolia. Am Mus Nov 3322:1–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Editor Robert Asher (University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge), Zhe-Xi Luo (University of Chicago, Chicago), and an anonymous reviewer for the useful comments and suggestions. This study was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) grant MA 1643/14-1, the Board of the President of the Russian Federation (MD-802.2009.4), the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (projects 07-04-00393, 10-04-01350, 12-04-92216-Mong, and 11-04-91331-NNIO), the Program of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences “Origin of Life and Establishment of Biosphere,” by the Ministry of Education and Science of Russian Federation (contract 16.518.11.7070), and by the St. Petersburg State University (grant NIR 3.39.148.2011). The US Civilian Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) grant #RUG1-2571-ST-04, which supported study of various Mesozoic mammals in the Natural History Museum (London), American Museum of Natural History (New York), Peabody Museum of Yale University (New Haven), and National Museum of Natural History (Washington) by AA, is also gratefully acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas Martin.

Additional information

Communicated by: Robert Asher

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

(DOC 707 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Averianov, A.O., Martin, T. & Lopatin, A.V. A new phylogeny for basal Trechnotheria and Cladotheria and affinities of South American endemic Late Cretaceous mammals. Naturwissenschaften 100, 311–326 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-013-1028-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-013-1028-3

Keywords

Navigation