Tetraclaenodon

Tetraclaenodon
Temporal range: Paleocene 61.7–56.8 Ma
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Family: Phenacodontidae
Genus: Tetraclaenodon
Scott, 1892
Species[1][2]
  • Tetraclaenodon puercensis (Cope, 1881)
  • Tetraclaenodon septentrionalis Thewissen, 1990

Tetraclaenodon was a genus of small and early ungulate mammals that was part of the Phenacodontidae family.[3] It is the oldest and most primitive phenacodontid.[4] Its fossils known from the Nacimiento Formation, New Mexico. In 2012, Tetraclaenodon was defined as the basalmost member of the clade containing "Phenacodontidae" and Altungulata.[4]

fossil skull of early ungulate Tetraclaenodon puercensis
Life Restoration

References

  1. ^ "Tetraclaenodon puercensis". Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Tetraclaenodon septentrionalis". Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Tetraclaenodon". Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  4. ^ a b P. Kondrashov, Spencer G. Lucas (January 2012). "Nearly Complete Skeleton of Tetraclaenodon (Mammalia, Phenacodontidae) from the Early Paleocene of New Mexico: Morpho-Functional Analysis". Journal of Paleontology. 86 (1): 25–43. doi:10.2307/41409129.