Restoration of T. taoensisTaeniolabis taoensis skull, Am. Mus. 16321.
Taeniolabis is a member of the
Taeniolabidoidea, a superfamily of multituberculates that are known for their highly derived teeth, and a short wide snout with a blocky head.[3] The teeth modifications were likely an adaptation for
herbivory that may have resulted from rapid diversification of
angiosperms at the very end of the
Cretaceous, which would thus have created opportunities for novel specialization in herbivores.[4] It is the largest known multituberculate, as well as the largest
allotherian mammal,[5][6] with T. taoensis weighing up to 34 kilograms (75 lb).[7] Species under this genus have been known under other names.[8]Taeniolabis taoensis is found frequently enough and in a very limited time range that it can be used as an
index fossil for the Puercan faunal stage within Danian aged fossil deposits.[9][10]
Taeniolabis lamberti was named by
Nancy Simmons in 1987.[12] It has been found in the
Danian aged
Tullock Formation of
Montana. It is not quite as large as T. taoensis, but still a hefty size for a multituberculate, weighing around 11 kilograms (24 lb).[13]
Life reconstruction of Taeniolabis taoensis
Taeniolabis taoensis was originally named Taeniolabis sulcatus by Cope in 1882 as the
type species of the genus.[14] It was later renamed as T. taoensis. Known fossils date to approximately 64 million years of age.[15] They are found in
Danian aged deposits of the
Nacimiento Formation of
New Mexico, the
Ravenscrag Formation of
Saskatchewan and the
Denver Formation of Colorado.[16] This species likely had a roughly16 centimetres (6.3 in) long skull and had an average body mass of 22.7 kilograms (50 lb), which is approximately the size of a modern
beaver. The species was once considered to have had a body mass of up to 100 kg and sized like a sheep[17] or larger by extrapolating body size on the basis of their huge teeth. However, improved analyses and the realization that the teeth were extraordinarily robust due to herbivory rather has generally disproved that.[18][19]
Restoration of T. taoensisTaeniolabis taoensis skull, Am. Mus. 16321.
Taeniolabis is a member of the
Taeniolabidoidea, a superfamily of multituberculates that are known for their highly derived teeth, and a short wide snout with a blocky head.[3] The teeth modifications were likely an adaptation for
herbivory that may have resulted from rapid diversification of
angiosperms at the very end of the
Cretaceous, which would thus have created opportunities for novel specialization in herbivores.[4] It is the largest known multituberculate, as well as the largest
allotherian mammal,[5][6] with T. taoensis weighing up to 34 kilograms (75 lb).[7] Species under this genus have been known under other names.[8]Taeniolabis taoensis is found frequently enough and in a very limited time range that it can be used as an
index fossil for the Puercan faunal stage within Danian aged fossil deposits.[9][10]
Taeniolabis lamberti was named by
Nancy Simmons in 1987.[12] It has been found in the
Danian aged
Tullock Formation of
Montana. It is not quite as large as T. taoensis, but still a hefty size for a multituberculate, weighing around 11 kilograms (24 lb).[13]
Life reconstruction of Taeniolabis taoensis
Taeniolabis taoensis was originally named Taeniolabis sulcatus by Cope in 1882 as the
type species of the genus.[14] It was later renamed as T. taoensis. Known fossils date to approximately 64 million years of age.[15] They are found in
Danian aged deposits of the
Nacimiento Formation of
New Mexico, the
Ravenscrag Formation of
Saskatchewan and the
Denver Formation of Colorado.[16] This species likely had a roughly16 centimetres (6.3 in) long skull and had an average body mass of 22.7 kilograms (50 lb), which is approximately the size of a modern
beaver. The species was once considered to have had a body mass of up to 100 kg and sized like a sheep[17] or larger by extrapolating body size on the basis of their huge teeth. However, improved analyses and the realization that the teeth were extraordinarily robust due to herbivory rather has generally disproved that.[18][19]