Mongolestes

Mongolestes
Temporal range: 48.6–28.4 Ma
M. hadrodens
Scientific classification Edit this classification
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]

  1. ^ a b Szalay & Gould 1966, p. 136
  2. ^ Jin 2005, p. 163