Cimolestes

Cimolestes
Cimolestes
Temporal range: Late Cretaceous to Early Paleocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: †Cimolesta
Suborder: †Didelphodonta
Family: †Cimolestidae
Genus: †Cimolestes
Marsh, 1889

Cimolestes ("Bug Thief") is a genus of early eutherians. Fossils have been found in North America, where they first appeared during the Late Cretaceous, and died out during the Paleocene.[1]

They were once considered to be marsupials, but now are considered to be members of the order Cimolesta (which was named after the genus).

Pangolins and carnivorans (that is, the clade Ferae) are believed to be cimolestids' closest living relatives.

References

  1. ^ McKenna, M. C, and S. K. Bell (1997). Classification of Mammals Above the Species Level. Columbia University Press. ISBN 023111012X. 
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