Oligokyphus

Oligokyphus Temporal range: Late Triassic–Early Jurassic PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
life restoration of Oligokyphus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Superclass:	Tetrapoda
Class:	Synapsida
Order:	Therapsida
Suborder:	Cynodontia
Family:	Tritylodontidae
Genus:	Oligokyphus Hennig E, 1922
Species
Oligokyphus triserialis (Hennig E, 1922) Oligokyphus major (Kühne WG, 1956) Oligokyphus lufengensis (Luo Z & Sun A, 1993) Oligokyphus sp. (Sues H-D, 1985)
Synonyms
Chalepotherium plieningeri Mucrotherium Uniserium

Oligokyphus was an advanced herbivorous cynodont of the late Triassic to early Jurassic periods. Originally considered to be an early mammal, it is now classified as a synapsid because Oligokyphus does not have the mammalian jaw attachments and it retains a vestigial joint between the quadrate bone and the squamosal bone in the skull.

Description

Oligokyphus (meaning "small curved animal"), was a small animal, around 50 centimetres (20 in) in length, belonging to the herbivorous Tritylodontidae family. It resembled a weasel in appearance, with a long and slim body. The limbs sat directly under the body, like modern mammals, but unlike other known synapsids.^[1] Oligokyphus was found widely across North America, Europe and China. This indicates that there were substitutes with the terrestrial vertebrates^{[clarification needed]}.

Skull and jaw

The teeth of the upper and lower jaw contain bump rows that fit together perfectly in order to maintain an accurate bite. Oligokyphus had a face similar to that of modern mammals, although there were differences in the cheekbones and eyesockets. It had a bony secondary palate and double-rooted cheek teeth. Unlike mammals, the teeth of Oligokyphus did not occlude. The jaw was double jointed, and the neck was flexible, with an atlas and axis and a double occipital condyle.

The teeth were different from those of related cynodonts; there were no canine teeth, and unusually large, rodent-like incisors. There is a large gap, or diastema, separating the cheek teeth from the incisors. The lower jaw of these animals moved back and forth when the mouth was shut so that the food could be chopped up. Oligokyphus had no premaxilla, but did have a lateral extension of the maxilla.

While the postcanines in non-mammalians, such as Oligokyphus, are difficult to differentiate from canines, the lower postcanines of Oligokyphus (also considered to be pre-molars) are defining from other Tritylodonts. On lower postcanine teeth of Trityldonts, two cusps can be found per row; however, Oligokyphus have two rows with three cusps in each row^[2]. The upper postcanines have also been found in fossil records to be longer than they are wide^[2]. These cusps, specific to Oligokyhpus Tritylodonts, allowed for a well-fitting bite that was particularly good at shredding plant material dense in fiber. The foremost incisors are similar to those of today's rodents, extremely intensified and enlarged.^[3]. The typical location of canine teeth is left empty with Oligokyphus. Instead, a gap is inserted in this area of the jaw as Oligokyphus lack the teeth commonly known as canines^[4].

Phylogeny

Cladistics

Oligokyphus is in the family Trityledontidae. The family is named after the shape of their teeth. Trityledontidae means "three knob teeth". The members of the family were all small to medium sized advanced synapsids with combined specialized structures for herbivorous eating. They were the last members of the non-mammalian synapsids. The first Trityledont was found in South Africa in the upper Jurassic rocks. It was first thought to be on of the earliest mammals. This classification has since been adjusted. These non-mammals became progressively more mammal-like. They are now classified as the closest relatives to the mammals and this is supported by their high, flat crested jaw, large zygomatic arches, well developed secondary palate, and dentition.^[5]

There have also been comparisons between the cranial nerves of Trityledonts and mammals. The shoulder girdle and forelimb structures were suggestive of these animals digging. These animals are extremely active and burrow in leaf litter and dirt, which suggests characteristics of rodents and rabbits. They naturally have a metabolism that is partially or completely endothermic. They were thought to be driven out by relatives such as mammals, which were competitors for the same territory. Another reason that this animal could have gone extinct is due to new plant development. Some flowering plants, or angiosperms, can be detrimental to these animals since they may not be used to eating new plants.^[5]

Oligokyphus is placed into the subgroup Probainognathia. This forms a monophyletic group with the tritheledontid Pachygenelus.

Fossil finds

Though Oligokyphus is very widespread, it was not until 1953 that representatives of this group were found. Information was first collected from the Kayenta Formation on Comb Ridge in northeastern Arizona. Numerous specimens of Oligokyphus were obtained by Harvard University and the Museum of Northern Arizona in the "Silty Facies". Many fossils have also been found throughout the UK, Germany and China. Some very small fragment remains have also been found in Antarctica. By these fossil records, one can see that Oligokyphus have a vertical humerus and a minor trochanter.^[6] This broad distribution indicates that there were no barriers to separate this terrestrial vertebrate.

Habitat

Oligokyphus were small tetrapod, terrestrial animals. They have long been considered as mammaliomorphs, a link between reptiles and mammals. It is believed these animals were primarily land dwelling, living amongst small shrubs or bushes. It is also thought that Oligokyphus fed on seeds or nuts, as their teeth resemble those of modern animals that also feed on seeds and nuts^[4]. It is a rather difficult to estimate the social behaviors of Oligokyphus as most of it does not preserve in the fossil record. However, considering the conditions on the planet during the times that Oligokyphus was alive and thriving (late Triassic and early Jurassic) and also the locations of which fossils of these animals were found, some educated predictions can be made about their metabolism and feeding habits. Oligokyphus, with its conveniently placed leg and hip structures, likely was quick-moving and fed off of low-lying plant life. With its long weasel-like body, it may have even been possible for Oligokyphus to reach higher vegetation simply by standing on its hind legs. It probably had good use of its hands to manipulate seeds and other digestively pleasing foods. There has not been any support showing Oligokyphus had the ability to climb vertically, as some rodents are capable of doing today.

Parental care

This illustration^{[clarification needed]} shows that there is a good possibility that Oligokyphus had parental care. This is assumed to be true because of the transitional state Oligokyphus was in from reptiles to mammalian. Today most mammals and some reptiles show parental care to their young. This makes a good argument to the possibility of parental care with Oligokyphus, but with all prehistoric creatures it is not a 100% assumption without actually seeing them interact.

References

1. ^ Palmer, D., ed (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 193. ISBN 1-84028-152-9. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Author unknown, "JURASSIC CYNODONTS; Tritylodontidae, an internet directory: " 8 Nov 2008
3. ^ rian's5source
4. ^ ^{a b} Sovak, J. 1999. Before the Dinosaurs (Coloring Book). Dover Publications. p.43 ISBN 0486405680
5. ^ ^{a b} 3
6. ^ mammallikereptiles

• Author unknown, "Categoria: Mamiferos" [1] 4 Nov 2008.
• Author unknown, "Tritylodontidae-Oligokyphus, [2] Nov. 4, 2008. pp. 1–10.
• Author unknown, "Tritylodontidae-Oligokyphus, [3] Nov. 4, 2008. pp. 1–10.
• Author unknown, "Tritylodontidae-Oligokyphus, [4] Nov. 4, 2008. pp. 1–10.
• Author unknown, "Tritylodontidae-Oligokyphus, [5] Nov. 4, 2008. pp. 1–10.
• Author unknown, "JURASSIC CYNODONTS; Tritylodontidae, an internet directory" http://home.arcor.de/ktdykes/jtherap.htm#oligokyphus 4 Nov 2008.
• Author unknown, "Eucynodontia", www.websters-online-dictionary.org, Nov. 5, 2008
• Hans-Dieter Sues, "Dinnebitodon Amarall, a New Tritylodintid from the lower Jurassic of Western North America, Journal of Palentology, Vol. 60, No. 3 (May 1986), pp. 758–762.
• Author Unknown. http://bnhm.berkeley.edu/query/sa.php?uk=UCMPVV83672&ic=UCMP 5 Nov 2008.
• Author Unknown. http://bnhm.berkeley.edu/query/sa.php?uk=UCMPVV83672&ic=UCMP 5 Nov 2008.
• FERNANDO ABDALA, "ENAMEL MICROSTRUCTURE IN EXAERETODON, A LATE TRIASSIC SOUTH AMERICAN TRAVERSODONTID (THERAPSIDA: CYNODONTIA, http://www.sbpbrasil.org/revista/edicoes/10_2/abdala&malabarba.pdf, 5 Nov 2008.
• Author Unknown, [6] 5 Nov 2008.
• Author Unknown. [7] 5 Nov 2008.

External links

Paleontology portal