Didelphodus Explained

Didelphodus is an extinct genus of eutherian mammal that inhabited North America and Europe during the Eocene epoch. It was insectivorous.

Taxonomy

The genus Didelphodus was erected by E. D. Cope in 1882, with the type species Deltatherium absarokae transferred to his new genus.^[1] The genus has been placed in the family Leptictidae or in the family Cimolestidae.^[1]

Species placed in the genus include:^{[2] [1]}

• Didelphodus absarokae (Cope, 1881) (type species)
• Didelphodus caloris Gingerich, Folie & Smith, 2023
• Didelphodus rheos Storer, 1995
• Didelphodus serus Storer, 1984

Palaeoecology

Based on its dental morphology and enamel δ¹⁸O values, Didelphodus had an insectivorous diet.^[3]

Notes and References

1. Gingerich . Philip D. . Folie . Annelise . Smith . Thierry . 2023 . Didelphodus caloris, New Species (Mammalia, Cimolesta), from the Wasatchian WA–0 Fauna of the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, Clarks Fork Basin, Wyoming . Contributions from the Museum of Paleontology, University of Michigan . 35 . 2 . 34–45 . 2024-11-13 . amp .
2. Web site: †Didelphodus Cope 1882 (eutherian) . Paleobiology Database . 2024-11-13 .
3. Secord . Ross . Wing . Scott L. . Chew . Amy . Spring 2008 . Stable isotopes in early Eocene mammals as indicators of forest canopy structure and resource partitioning . . en . 34 . 2 . 282–300 . 10.1666/0094-8373(2008)034[0282:SIIEEM]2.0.CO;2 . 0094-8373 . 12 November 2024 . Cambridge Core.