Malleodectes

Malleodectes
Malleodectes
Temporal range: Middle Miocene–Late Miocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Metatheria
Order: incertae sedis
Family: incertae sedis
Genus: Malleodectes
Arena et al., 2011 [1]
Species: M. mirabilis & M. moenia
Binomial name
Malleodectes mirabilis
Arena et al., 2011 [1]
Malleodectes moenia
Arena et al., 2011 [1]

Malleodectes is a marsupial discovered in 2011 at Riversleigh, Queensland, Australia.[2] It could grow as large as a ferret, and lived in the Miocene, 17 million years ago. The reason for its name "Hammer Biter" is because it has blunt, hammer like teeth, not known from any other mammal extant or extinct. However, Scott Hocknull from the Queensland Museum has noticed similarities to the modern pink-tongued skink (Cyclodomorphus gerrardii), a reptile specialised in eating snails.[3] This suggests that Malleodectes too was a specialised snail hunter.

References

  1. ^ a b c Derrick A. Arena, Michael Archer, Henk Godthelp, Suzanne J. Hand & Scott Hocknull (in press). "Hammer-toothed 'marsupial skinks' from the Australian Cenozoic". Proceedings of the Royal Society B. doi:10.1098/rspb.2011.0486. 
  2. ^ "Experts unearth ancient snail-eating marsupial". ABC News. 21 April 2011. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/04/21/3197835.htm. Retrieved 27 April 2011. 
  3. ^ Jennifer Viegas (20 April 2011). "'Hammer-biter' mammal built for eating crunchy food". Discovery News. http://news.discovery.com/animals/hammer-biter-mammal-built-for-eating-crunchy-food-110420.html. Retrieved 27 April 2011. 


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