Horolodectes Explained

Horolodectes sunae is a prehistoric eutherian mammal species from the Late Paleocene of northern Alberta, Canada. The generic name means "hourglass biter" in Greek in direct reference of the hourglass-shape of its teeth.

Horolodectes, along with the slightly older genus Ferrequitherium, belongs to the family Horolodectidae.[1]

Description

The dentition of Horolodectes comprises trenchant, posteriorly leaning premolars and comparatively primitive molars, which indicate a masticatory cycle that consisted primarily of shearing and, to a lesser degree, horizontal grinding.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Craig S. Scott (2018). "Horolodectidae: a new family of unusual eutherians (Mammalia: Theria) from the Palaeocene of Alberta, Canada". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. in press. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zly040.
  2. Scott C.S, Webb M.W. and Fox R.C.. 2005. Horolodectes sunae, an enigmatic mammal from the Late Paleocene of Alberta, Canada . Journal of Paleontology. 1009–1025. http://www.bioone.org/perlserv/?request=get-abstract&doi=10.1666%2F0022-3360(2006)80%5B1009%3AHSAEMF%5D2.0.CO%3B2