Alphadon Temporal range:
Late Cretaceous,
[1]
| |
---|---|
Reconstruction of Alphadon sp. | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Family: | † Alphadontidae |
Genus: | †
Alphadon Simpson, 1927 |
Species [2] | |
Alphadon is an extinct genus of small, primitive mammal that was a member of the metatherians, a group of mammals that includes modern-day marsupials. Its fossils were first discovered and named by George Gaylord Simpson in 1929. [2]
Not much is known about the appearance of Alphadon, as it is only known from teeth, a lower jaw and skull fragments. It probably grew to about 12 in (30 cm) and may have resembled a modern opossum. [3] Judging from its teeth, it was likely an omnivore, feeding on fruits, invertebrates and possibly small vertebrates. Alphadon had a very good sense of smell and sight to track down its food, both during the day and night. Its possible whiskers could have also aided in its search for food. [4] [3]
The type species is Alphadon marshi. Eight other species are known. [2] The species Alphadon jasoni was originally described by Storer (1991); [5] it was subsequently transferred to the herpetotheriid genus Nortedelphys. [6]
Recent phylogenetic studies group it with other northern non-marsupial metatherians such as Albertatherium and Turgidodon. [7] [8] A 2016 phylogenetic analysis is shown below. [9]
Alphadon Temporal range:
Late Cretaceous,
[1]
| |
---|---|
Reconstruction of Alphadon sp. | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Family: | † Alphadontidae |
Genus: | †
Alphadon Simpson, 1927 |
Species [2] | |
Alphadon is an extinct genus of small, primitive mammal that was a member of the metatherians, a group of mammals that includes modern-day marsupials. Its fossils were first discovered and named by George Gaylord Simpson in 1929. [2]
Not much is known about the appearance of Alphadon, as it is only known from teeth, a lower jaw and skull fragments. It probably grew to about 12 in (30 cm) and may have resembled a modern opossum. [3] Judging from its teeth, it was likely an omnivore, feeding on fruits, invertebrates and possibly small vertebrates. Alphadon had a very good sense of smell and sight to track down its food, both during the day and night. Its possible whiskers could have also aided in its search for food. [4] [3]
The type species is Alphadon marshi. Eight other species are known. [2] The species Alphadon jasoni was originally described by Storer (1991); [5] it was subsequently transferred to the herpetotheriid genus Nortedelphys. [6]
Recent phylogenetic studies group it with other northern non-marsupial metatherians such as Albertatherium and Turgidodon. [7] [8] A 2016 phylogenetic analysis is shown below. [9]