Apterodon

<i>Apterodon</i>

Apterodon

Extinct genus of mammals

Apterodon ("without winged tooth") is an extinct genus of hyaenodontid mammals that lived from the late Eocene through the middle Oligocene epoch in Africa and Europe.[3] It is closely related to the African Quasiapterodon, and together it, they comprise the hyainailurids subfamily Apterodontinae.[3]

Life restoration of Apterodon macrognathus

Quick Facts Scientific classification, Type species ...

Uniquely among hyaenodonts, species of Apterodon were a semiaquatic, fossorial mammals. They possessed strong forelimbs that were well equipped for digging, compared to those of modern badgers, while the tail, torso and hindlimbs show adaptations similar to those of other aquatic mammals like otters and pinnipeds. The dentition was suited to feed on hard-shelled invertebrate prey, such as crustaceans and shellfish. They probably lived along African coastlines.[3]

Borths and Stevens (2017.)[9] described a new specimen of Apterodon macrognathus (among with other hyaenodonts) and concluded that the dental eruption of secondary dentition occurred much more slowly than in carnivorans.

References

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  1. [1]
    Schlosser M. (1910.) "Über einige fossil saügetiere aus dem Oligocän von Ägypten." Zoologischer Anzeiger 35: 500–508.
  2. [2]
    Fischer, P. (1880.) "Note sur un nouveau genre de mammifère fossile (Apterodon gaudryi) des Phosphorites du Quercy." Bulletin de la Société géologique de France 8, 288–290.
  3. [3]
    Grohé, Camille; Morlo, Michael; Chaimanee, Yaowalak; Blondel, Cécile; Coster, Pauline; Valentin, Xavier; Salem, Mustapha; Bilal, Awad A.; Jaeger, Jean-Jacques; Brunet, Michel; Laudet, Vincent (2012). "New Apterodontinae (Hyaenodontida) from the Eocene Locality of Dur At-Talah (Libya): Systematic, Paleoecological and Phylogenetical Implications". PLOS ONE. 7 (11): e49054. Bibcode:2012PLoSO...749054G. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0049054. PMC 3504055. PMID 23185292.
  4. [4]
    C. W. Andrews (1904.) "Further notes on the mammals of the Eocene of Egypt. Part III." Geological Magazine, London Ser. 5 1:211-215
  5. [5]
    E. Frey, W. Munk, M. Böhme, M. Morlo and M. Hensel (2010.) "First creodont carnivore from the Rupelian Clays (Oligocene) of the Clay Pit Unterfeld at Rauenberg (Rhein-Neckar-Kreis, Baden-Württemberg): Apterodon rauenbergensis n.sp." Kaupia 17:103-113
  6. [6]
    E. L. Simons and P. D. Gingerich (1976.) "A new species of Apterodon (Mammalia, Creodonta) from the upper Eocene Qasr el-Sagha Formation of Egypt." Postilla 168:1-9
  7. [7]
    Andreae, A. (1887.) "Ein neues Raubtier aus dem mitteloligocänen Meeresand des Mainzer Beckens." Bericht uber die Senckenbergische Naturforschende Gesellschaft (125–133).
  8. [8]
    B. Lange-Badré and M. Böhme (2005.) "Apterodon intermedius, sp. nov., a new European Creodont Mammal from MP22 of Espenhain (Germany)." Annales de Paléontologie 91:311-328
  9. [9]
    Borths, Matthew R.; Stevens, Nancy J. (2017). "Deciduous dentition and dental eruption of Hyainailouroidea (Hyaenodonta, "Creodonta," Placentalia, Mammalia)". Palaeontologia Electronica. 20 (3): 55A. doi:10.26879/776.


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