- Eucosmodon
Taxobox
name = "Eucosmodon"
fossil_range =Paleocene
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Chordata
classis =Mammal ia
ordo =Multituberculata
familia =Eucosmodontidae
genus = "Eucosmodon"
genus_authority = Matthew & Granger, 1921
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =
* "E. americanus"
* "E. molestus"
* "E. primus""Eucosmodon" is a
genus of extinctmammal from thePaleocene ofNorth America . It is a member of the extinct order ofMultituberculata within the suborder ofCimolodonta , and the familyEucosmodontidae . This genus has partly also been known asNeoplagiaulax . All knownfossil s of this small mammal are restricted to teeth.Species of "Eucosmodon"
All known species of "Eucosmodon" have been found in the San Juan Basin of
New Mexico (USA )."Eucosmodon americanus" is a species of which Puercan (Paleocene)-age fossils have been found. Some, but not all, of this fossil material has been reclassified as "E. primus". This animal, which probably weighed something like 750 g, has been cited as a possible descendant of that species.
"Eucosmodon molestus" is a species of Torrejonian (Paleocene) age. It has been cited as a possible descendant of "E. americanus".
"Eucosmodon primus", also from the Puercan part of the Paleocene, have been found in the Nacimiento Formation of the San Juan Basin. This species is based on fossils originally ascribed to "E. americanus".
A possible fourth species, "Eucosmodon kuszmauli", has also been named.
References
* Most of this information has been derived from [http://home.arcor.de/ktdykes/taenio.htm] "Mesozoic Mammals;
Eucosmodontidae ,Microcosmodontidae andTaeniolabidoidea , an Internet directory".
* Matthew & Granger (1921), "New genera of Paleocene mammals". "American Museum Novitates" 13, p.1-7.
* Kielan-Jaworowska Z and Hurum JH (2001), "Phylogeny and Systematics of multituberculate mammals". "Paleontology" 44, p.389-429.
* Fox (1971), "Canadian J of Earth Sci" 8: 916.
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