| Mongolestes Temporal range:
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|---|---|
| |
| M. hadrodens | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | †Mesonychia |
| Family: | †Mesonychidae |
| Genus: | †Mongolestes Szalay & Gould 1966 |
| Species | |
| |
Mongolestes ("Mongolian robber") is an extinct genus of mesonychid known from the 'Ulan Gochu' formation of Inner Mongolia, and likely originated in Asia. It was the last surviving representative of Mesonychia and became extinct in the early Oligocene.
Mongolestes is distinct from other mesonychids in several dental features, including very large teeth and the loss of the third molar, and a mandibular symphysis that is steeper.[1]
- ^ a b Szalay & Gould 1966, p. 136
- ^ Jin 2005, p. 163