- Sparassodonta
image_caption = "Thylacosmilus "
fossil_range =Paleocene -Pleistocene
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis =Mammal ia
infraclassis =Marsupialia
ordo = †Sparassodonta
ordo_authority = Ameghino, 1894
subdivision_ranks = Families
subdivision =†Mayulestidae †Hathliacynidae †Borhyaenidae †Proborhyaenidae †Prothylacinidae †Thylacosmilidae Sparassodonta is an
extinct order of carnivorousmarsupial mammal s native toSouth America . A number of these marsupial predators closely resembleplacental predators that evolved separately on other continents, and are cited frequently as an example ofconvergent evolution .They were first described by
Florentino Ameghino , from fossils found in the Santa Cruz beds ofPatagonia . Genera include "Borhyaena ,Thylacosmilus ,Prothylacinus ,Amphiproviverra ," etc.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.