Eoconodon

Eoconodon is an extinct genus of triisodontid mesonychid that existed during the early Paleocene of North America.[1] Characteristics of the genus include massive jaws, blunt builds, and strong canine teeth.[2]

E. coryphaeus jaw

Eoconodon
Temporal range: Early Paleocene
↓
E. coryphaeus skull, Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
†Mesonychia
Family:
†Triisodontidae
Genus:
†Eoconodon

Type species
Eoconodon coryphaeus
Van Valen, 1978
Species

See text

Living individuals were about the size of a modern house cat, but were considered giant for mammals at the time.[3]

Species
  • Eoconodon copanus
  • Eoconodon coryphaeus
  • Eoconodon ginibitohia
  • Eoconodon goodrianus
  • Eoconodon heilprinianus
  • Eoconodon nidhoggi

References
  1. Clemens, William A. (2011). "Eoconodon ("Triisodontidae," Mammalia) from the Early Paleocene (Puercan) of northeastern Montana, USA" (PDF). Palaeontologia Electronica. 14.
  2. Clemens, William A.; Williamson, Thomas E. (2005). "A new species of Eoconodon (Triisodontidae, Mammalia) from the San Juan Basin, New Mexico". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 25 (1): 208–213. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2005)025[0208:ANSOET]2.0.CO;2.
  3. Michael Franco (June 20, 2016). "Over 90 percent of mammals were wiped out by dino-killing asteroid". Gizmag. Retrieved June 20, 2016.


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