Durlstotherium

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Durlstotherium
Temporal range: Middle
Ma
Molars of Durlstotherium newmani (A) and Durlstodon ensomi (B)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Clade: Eutheria
Genus: Durlstotherium
Sweetman et al., 2017
Type species
Durlstotherium newmani
Sweetman et al., 2017

Durlstotherium is an extinct genus of mammal from the Early Cretaceous. It contains a single species, Durlstotherium newmani. The type specimen was found in Durlston Bay, Dorset, after which the genus was named.[1] D. newmani was named after a British pub landlord, Charlie Newman.[2] Durlstotherium and two of its contemporaries, Tribactonodon and Durlstodon, had tribosphenidan (three-cusped) molars, which are an advanced characteristic among eutherian mammals and suggest that the group emerged earlier than the Early Cretaceous.[1]

Artist's impression of Durlstotherium (right and center) and Durlstodon (left)

References