Microdocodon
Microdocodon Temporal range: Late Jurassic
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Clade: | Synapsida |
Clade: | Therapsida |
Clade: | Cynodontia |
Clade: | Mammaliaformes |
Order: | †Docodonta |
Family: | † Tegotheriidae
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Genus: | †Microdocodon Zhou et al., 2019 |
Species: | †M. gracilis
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Binomial name | |
†Microdocodon gracilis Zhou et al., 2019
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Microdocodon is a genus of
Daohugou locality. It is unique for preserving the hyoid bone
, which is almost unknown in the early mammal fossil record.
Anatomy
The species is notable for providing insight into the evolution of the ability to chew and suckle in early relatives of mammals, by preserving a nearly intact
cynodonts. This supports previous conclusions that an important feature that marks crown mammals (Mammalia) from the mammaliaforms is the evolution of the middle ear, and the way in which it disconnected from its previous position in the mandible.[1]
Microdocodon is an especially small early mammal, thought to have been a shrew-like insectivore weighing about 9 grams. It was probably capable of climbing and living in trees. Microdocodon lived at the same time as semiaquatic Castorocauda, the subterranean mammaliaform Docofossor, and the arboreal Agilodocodon, all known from the Yanliao Biota.
See also
- List of synapsids
References
- S2CID 197663503.