Lambdopsalidae

Taeniolabidoidea
Temporal range: 59–55 Ma
↓
 Thanetian/Late Paleocene
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: †Multituberculata
Superfamily: †Taeniolabidoidea
Family: †Lambdopsalidae
Chow and Qi, 1978[1]
Genera

Lambdopsalidae is a family of extinct multituberculate mammals from the Late Paleocene of Asia. They are part of Taeniolabidoidea, a clade otherwise present in the Early Paleocene (and possibly the Late Cretaceous) of North America. The Lambdopsalids probably evolved from a single radiation that spread into Asia from North America in the mid-Paleocene or earlier. They are represented by the genera Lambdopsalis, Sphenopsalis and Prionessus.[2][1] This group was first defined in 1978 by Chow and Tao Qi.[3]

The Lambdopsalids were small mammals, with estimated adult body masses of about 0.4 kilograms (0.88 lb) to 0.8 kilograms (1.8 lb).[4] They are notable for their enlarged teeth that implies adaptations towards leaf grazing,[2] and adaptations for burrowing such as a short and flat snout, robust humeri, stiff neck and enlarged lower incisors. [5][6] This group has a shared dental formula of 2.0.1.21.0.1.2[3] Examples of Lambdopsalis are notable for offering direct evidence of hair and enamel and tooth prism patterns among multituberculates.[7]

Lambdopsalids lived during the Thanetian, the last stage of the Paleocene, with fossils ranging from 59-55 million years ago.[8] They disappeared around the PETM.

  1. ^ a b Mao et al 2016, p 433
  2. ^ a b Williamson et al 2015
  3. ^ a b Mao et al, 2016 pg 433
  4. ^ Wilson et al 2012, Supplemental table 5
  5. ^ Kielan-Jorowowska and Qi, 1990
  6. ^ Kielan-Jorowowska and Hurum, 2001
  7. ^ Mao et al, 2015
  8. ^ Wilson et al 2012, Supplemental Tables 3 and 5