Mesungulatidae

Mesungulatidae; Temporal range: Late Cretaceous, 83–66 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	†Dryolestida
Clade:	†Meridiolestida
Clade:	†Mesungulatoidea
Family:	†Mesungulatidae; Bonaparte, 1986
Genera
	†Mesungulatum; †Coloniatherium; †Parungulatum; †Quirogatherium;

Mesungulatidae is an extinct clade of meridiolestidan dryolestoid mammals from the Late Cretaceous of South America. They are particularly notable for their ecological speciation and large size.[1]

Characteristics

Most mesungulatids are generally large animals, making them inherently distinctive from other groups. Specific synapomorphies include a strong precingulum and postcingulum on the upper molars - which are extended lingually but do not meet around the paracone - three cusps on the lower stylar shelf, an absent metacone and rectangular lower molars.[2] They are thought to have had a somewhat transverse mastication, like docodonts and modern ungulates.[3]

Ecology

Mesungulatids are generally large sized herbivores or omnivores, being among the several Mesozoic mammals deviating from the classical insectivore stereotype. They are among the dominant mammals in Late Cretaceous South American assemblages, and among the most derived species present.[4][1]

References

Rougier, G.W.; Forasiepi, A.M.; Hill, R.V.; Novacek, M. (2009). "New mammalian remains from the Late Cretaceous La Colonia Formation, Patagonia, Argentina". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 54 (2): 195–212. doi:10.4202/app.2006.0026.
Kielan-Jaworowska, Z.; Cifelli, R.; Luo, Z.-X. (2004). Mammals from the Age of Dinosaurs: Origins, Evolution, and Structure. Columbia University Press. p. 630. ISBN 978-0-231-11918-4.
Dental and Craniomandibular Anatomy of Peligrotherium Tropicalis: The Evolutionary Radiation of South American Dryolestoid Mammals, ProQuest, 2008
Chornogubsky, L. (2011). "New remains of the dryolestoid mammal Leonardus cuspidatus from the Los Alamitos Formation (Late Cretaceous, Argentina)". Paläontologische Zeitschrift. 85 (3): 343–350. doi:10.1007/s12542-010-0095-4.

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[Rougier-1] Rougier, G.W.; Forasiepi, A.M.; Hill, R.V.; Novacek, M. (2009). "New mammalian remains from the Late Cretaceous La Colonia Formation, Patagonia, Argentina". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 54 (2): 195–212. doi:10.4202/app.2006.0026.

[2] Kielan-Jaworowska, Z.; Cifelli, R.; Luo, Z.-X. (2004). Mammals from the Age of Dinosaurs: Origins, Evolution, and Structure. Columbia University Press. p. 630. ISBN 978-0-231-11918-4.

[3] Dental and Craniomandibular Anatomy of Peligrotherium Tropicalis: The Evolutionary Radiation of South American Dryolestoid Mammals, ProQuest, 2008

[4] Chornogubsky, L. (2011). "New remains of the dryolestoid mammal Leonardus cuspidatus from the Los Alamitos Formation (Late Cretaceous, Argentina)". Paläontologische Zeitschrift. 85 (3): 343–350. doi:10.1007/s12542-010-0095-4.