Adelobasileus

Taxobox
name = "Adelobasileus"
fossil_range = Late Triassic

---

image_width = 300px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
subphylum = Vertebrata
unranked_classis = Amniota
classis = Synapsida
unranked_ordo = Mammaliaformes
genus = "Adelobasileus"
species = "A. cromptoni"
binomial = "Adelobasileus cromptoni"
binomial_authority = Lucas & Hunt, 1990

"Adelobasileus cromptoni" is a species of an extinct genus of proto-mammals from the Late Triassic (Carnian), about 225 million years ago. It is poorly represented in the fossil record and is known only from a partial skull recovered from the Tecovas formation in western Texas.

"Adelobasileus" predates the most advanced non-mammalian cynodonts (tritylodonta and trithelodonta) and all other known Mammaliaformes by 10 million years. In fact, distinct cranial features, especially the housing of the cochlea, suggest that "Adelobasileus" is a transitional form in the character transformation from cynodonts to Triassic mammals. For this reason, it is thought to be the common ancestor of all modern mammals or a close relative of the common ancestor.

References

#S.G. Lucas and Z. Lou, "Adelobasileus from the upper Triassic of west Texas: the oldest mammal", J. Vert. Paleont, 1993.

External links

* [http://www.palaeos.com/Mesozoic/Triassic/Carnian.600.htm#Adelobasileus Adelobasileus from Paleaos]
* [http://genesispanthesis.tripod.com/fossils/rept_mam.html Evolution: From Reptiles to Mammals]