Mixodectidae
| Mixodectidae Temporal range:
| |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Dermoptera |
| Family: | †Mixodectidae Cope, 1883[1] |
| Genera | |
Mixodectidae (from Greek μιξο, mixo, "mixed", and δεκτες, dektes "biter") is an
Dermoptera. The mixodectids originated in the late Cretaceous and survived into the Paleocene in Europe and North America.[2]
Description
While there is less anatomical evidence for this group than for other archaic placental families (such as apatemyids, pantolestids, leptictids, and palaeoryctids), preserved dental and cranial anatomies give an idea of mixodectid dietary requirements. Their rodent-like dental pattern was similar to that of the multituberculates, with a pair of large, strong, and forward-directed incisors and a row of multi-cusped and low-crowned premolars and molars — a specialized dental set-up probably used for crushing and opening hard seeds and nuts.[2]
dermopterans, supporting their inclusion within Euarchonta
.
[3]
See also
Notes
- ^ Mixodectidae in the Paleobiology Database. Retrieved January 2010.
- ^ a b Agusti & Anton 2002, p. 5
- ^ Rose 2006, p. 164
References
- Agusti, Jordi; Anton, Mauricio (2002). ISBN 0-231-11640-3.
- Rose, Kenneth David (2006). The beginning of the age of mammals. JHU Press. ISBN 0-8018-8472-1.
External links
Wikispecies has information related to Mixodectidae.
- "Family: Mixodectidae: Occurrence overview". GBIF. Retrieved 16 January 2010.[permanent dead link]