Neither a rodent nor a platypus : a reexamination of Necrolestes patagonensis Ameghino ; American Museum novitates, no. 3546

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dc.contributor.authorAsher, Robert J.en_US
dc.contributor.authorHorovitz, Inés.en_US
dc.contributor.authorMartin, Thomas, 1960-en_US
dc.contributor.authorSánchez-Villagra, Marcelo R.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2007-01-25T17:09:03Z
dc.date.available2007-01-25T17:09:03Z
dc.date.issued2007en_US
dc.description40 p. : ill. ; 26 cm.en_US
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references (p. 37-40).en_US
dc.description.abstractWe present new descriptions, figures, and interpretations of well-preserved cranioskeletal elements of the early Miocene, fossorial mammal Necrolestes patagonensis from Argentina. As previously noted, this animal is highly apomorphic and its phylogenetic affinities are difficult to interpret. Its derived features include hypsodont upper cheek teeth, a partially fused cervical spine, an unfused atlas consisting of separate right and left massae, and a distally ossified flexor tendon of the forearm. Characters that support its status as a therian mammal include a coiled cochlear housing of the inner ear. Consistent with its status as a metatherian is the presence of five upper incisors, transverse canal foramina, and a broad proximal fibula. However, we cannot confirm other characters claimed by previous researchers as evidence for affinity with marsupial or nonplacental mammals, such as the presence of an inflected mandibular angle and epipubic bones. Furthermore, Necrolestes shows similarities to eutherian mammals, such as small incisive foramina and possibly three molars. On biogeographic and some anatomical grounds, identification of Necrolestes as a metatherian remains a compelling option. However, pending a combined-data phylogenetic analysis encompassing Theria and accounting for the anatomical diversity of Necrolestes, possible membership in Eutheria should not be ruled out.en_US
dc.format.extent10109486 bytes
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2246/5833
dc.languageengen_US
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherNew York, NY : American Museum of Natural Historyen_US
dc.relation.ispartofseriesAmerican Museum novitates, no. 3546en_US
dc.subject.lccQL1 .A436 no.3546 2007en_US
dc.subject.lcshNecrolestes patagonensis.en_US
dc.subject.lcshMammals, Fossil -- Argentinaen_US
dc.subject.lcshPaleontology -- Miocene -- Argentina.en_US
dc.subject.lcshPaleontology -- Argentina.en_US
dc.subject.lcshMammals -- Phylogeny.en_US
dc.titleNeither a rodent nor a platypus : a reexamination of Necrolestes patagonensis Ameghino ; American Museum novitates, no. 3546en_US
dc.title.alternativeReexamination of Necrolestes patagonensis Ameghinoen_US
dc.title.alternativeArgentine fossorial mammal Necrolestesen_US
dc.typetexten_US

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