Journal
JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY
Volume 32, Issue 5, Pages 983-1001Publisher
SOC VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY
DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2012.694319
Keywords
-
Categories
Funding
- Russian Basic Research Foundation [11-04-00933-a, 11-06-12030-ofi-m-2011]
- program, Historical Dynamics of Biological Resources and Importance of Their Conservation and Use
- program, Origin and Evolution of the Biosphere
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Ernanodon, one of the most enigmatic Asian fossil mammals, was previously known by a single specimen from the late Paleocene (Nongshanian) of China. Here we document the first record of Ernanodon from Mongolia, represented by a nearly complete skeleton from the late Paleocene (Gashatan) of the Naran Bulak locality. The new material provides an opportunity to understand the lifestyle and habits of this rare mammal and reevaluate the arguments used to establish the phylogenetic relationships of Ernanodon. Functional analysis indicates that Ernanodon had very strong forelimbs with large claws and used its forelimbs for scratch-digging. Character analysis reveals numerous similarities in postcranial anatomy between Ernanodon and Palaeanodonta. Phylogenetic analysis supports inclusion of Ernanodon in the order Palaeanodonta and suggests that Palaeanodonta and Pholidota are sister groups.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available