Novacek, Michael J.Wyss, André R.2005-10-062005-10-061987http://hdl.handle.net/2246/51908 p. : ill. ; 26 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 7-8)."According to several standard descriptions, desmostylians lack certain specializations shared by proboscideans, sirenians, and hyracoids. These specializations are amastoidy and the serial arrangement of the carpals with the concomitant loss of contact between the lunar and unciform. We argue that original descriptions of desmostylians pertaining to these traits are either in error, or have alternative phylogenetic implications. Hence, comparisons of these conditions do not exclude desmostylians from the superordinal group Tethytheria (proboscideans and sirenians) or the more inclusive Paenungulata (tethytheres and hyracoids)"--P. [1].1853137 bytesapplication/pdfen-USQL1 .A436 no.2870, 1987Desmostylia.Skeleton.Mammals -- Phylogeny.Mammals, Fossil.text