Horolodectes
Horolodectes sunae is a prehistoric eutherian mammal species from the Late Paleocene of northern Alberta, Canada. The generic name means "hourglass biter" in Greek in direct reference of the hourglass-shape of its teeth.
| Horolodectes Temporal range: Late Paleocene | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
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| Family: | Horolodectidae |
| Genus: | Horolodectes Scott et al. 2006 |
| Type species | |
| Horolodectes sunae | |
Horolodectes, along with the slightly older genus Ferrequitherium, belongs to the family Horolodectidae.[1]
Description
The dentition of Horolodectes comprises trenchant, posteriorly leaning premolars and comparatively primitive molars, which indicate a masticatory cycle that consisted primarily of shearing and, to a lesser degree, horizontal grinding.[2]
References
- Craig S. Scott (2018). "Horolodectidae: a new family of unusual eutherians (Mammalia: Theria) from the Palaeocene of Alberta, Canada". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. in press. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zly040.
- Scott C.S, Webb M.W. and Fox R.C. (2005). "Horolodectes sunae, an enigmatic mammal from the Late Paleocene of Alberta, Canada". Journal of Paleontology: 1009–1025.
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