Polydolopimorphia Explained

Polydolopimorphia is an extinct order of metatherians, closely related to extant marsupials. Known from the Paleocene-Pliocene of South America and the Eocene of Antarctica, they were a diverse group during the Paleogene, filling many niches, before declining and becoming extinct at the end of the Neogene.^[1] It is divided into two suborders, Bonapartheriiformes, and Polydolopiformes ^[2] Most members are only known from jaw fragments, which have their characteristically generally bunodont teeth. The morphology of their teeth has led to proposals that polydolopimorphians may be crown group marsupials, nested within Australidelphia, though this proposal, has been questioned, with other analyses finding them outside of crown-group Marsupialia. The monophyly of the group has been questioned, due to the possibility of the characteristic bunodont teeth emerging convergently in unrelated groups, rather than reflecting a true phylogenetic relationship. The group contained omnivorous, frugivorous and herbivorous forms.

Taxonomy

Taxonomical subdivision of the Polydolopimorphia:^[3]

• Suborder Bonapartheriiformes
  • • • • Family Bonapartheriidae Genus Bonapartherium
    • Genus Epidolops
      • • Family Argyrolagidae Genus Anargyrolagus
    • Genus Argyrolagus
    • Genus Hondalagus
    • Genus Klohnia
    • Genus Microtragulus
    • Genus Proargyrolagus
      • • Subfamily Chulpasiinae Genus Chulpasia
    • Genus Thylacotinga
      • • Family Prepidolopidae Genus Incadolops
    • Genus Perrodelphys
    • Genus Punadolops
      • • Family Rosendolopidae Genus Hondonadia
    • Genus Rosendolops
• Suborder Polydolopiformes
  • Family Polydolopidae ^[4]

Notes and References

1. Beck. Robin M. D.. The Skull of Epidolops ameghinoi from the Early Eocene Itaboraí Fauna, Southeastern Brazil, and the Affinities of the Extinct Marsupialiform Order Polydolopimorphia. Journal of Mammalian Evolution. 24. 4. 2016. 373–414. 1064-7554. 10.1007/s10914-016-9357-6. 29187780. 5684316.
2. Chornogubsky. Laura. Goin. Francisco J.. A review of the molar morphology and phylogenetic affinities of Sillustania quechuense(Metatheria, Polydolopimorphia, Sillustaniidae), from the early Paleogene of Laguna Umayo, southeastern Peru. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 35. 6. 2015. e983238. 0272-4634. 10.1080/02724634.2015.983238. 86106580 . 11336/46844. free.
3. http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=taxonInfo&taxon_no=143611 Polydolopimorphia
4. Laura Chornogubsky . Interrelationships of Polydolopidae (Mammalia: Marsupialia) from South America and Antarctica . Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society . 192. 4. 2021. 1195–1236. 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa143 . free . 11336/131166 . free . Along with:
   • Enrico de Lazaro: Three New Species of Extinct Marsupials Identified, sci-news, Jan 26, 2021
     • • • Genus Amphidolops
     ]
     • • Genus Antarctodolops
       • Genus Archaeodolops
       • Genus Hypodolops
       • Genus Kramadolops
       • Genus Pliodolops
       • Genus Polydolops
       • Genus Pseudolops
         • • Family Sillustaniidae Genus Sillustania
       • Genus Roberthoffstetteria
   • incertae sedis
     • Genus Prepidolops
     • Genus Wamradolops
     • Genus Bobbschaefferia

   References