- Docodon
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Docodon
Temporal range: Middle Jurassic–Upper JurassicScientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata (unranked): Amniota Class: Synapsida (unranked): Mammaliaformes Order: Docodonta Family: Docodontidae Genus: Docodon
Marsh, 1881Species - D. victor
- D. affinis
- D. crassus
- D. straitus
- D. superus
Docodon (meaning 'beam tooth') was an omnivorous mammal from the middle to upper Jurassic Period that lived in Europe and North America approximately 175.6 to 144 million years ago. Docodon likely inhabited woodland and stayed in trees out of the reach of predators. Weather Docodon was a true mammal is under debate, and some suggest it was an evolved therapsid or mammal like reptile.
Docodon had complex teeth, which suggest it had a diverse diet. The dentition patterns of the cusps and other molars are complex and distinct and closely resemble that of mammals, but Docodon and other docodonts are only distantly related to living mammals.
It was first discovered by Othniel Charles Marsh in 1880. Like other early small mammals it is known only from fossilized teeth since the rest of the body did not fossilize as efficiently. Docodon fossils are found most commonly at the 'Morrison Formation of the Black Hills' and suggest a possible habitat preference.
Its height is estimated at 10 centimeters with a length of 4 inches and approximate weight of 1 once. A 2006 study by J. R. Foster concluded it is the most massive mammal genus of the formation.
Species
- Genus Docodon
- Docodon victor
- Docodon affinis
- Docodon crassus
- Docodon straitus
- Docodon superus
See also
- Morrison Formation
- Mammals of the Morrison Formation
External links
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