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Docodonta

Cladus: Eukaryota
Supergroup: Opisthokonta
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: †Incertae sedis
Ordo: †Docodonta
Familia: Docodontidae

Name

* Docodonta Kretzoi, 1958

Synonyms

* Docodontiformes Kinman, 1994
* Tegotheridia Tatarinov, 1994

Bibliography

* McKenna, M.C. & Bell, S.K. (eds.) 1997: Classification of mammals – above the species level. Columbia University Press, New York, 1997, xii-631.

Docodonta is an order of extinct proto-mammals that lived during the mid- to late-Mesozoic era. Their most distinguishing physical features were their relatively sophisticated set of molars, from which the order gets its name. In the fossil record, Docodonta is represented primarily by isolated teeth and bits of jawbones. While most of these specimens have been found across former Laurasia (modern-day North America, Europe, and Asia), some have also been found from Gondwana (modern-day India and Southern Hemisphere).

The exact phylogenetic position of the docodonts depends on the method one is using. From a cladistic point of view, docodonts are advanced mammaliaforms just outside the Mammalia proper. From a 'traditional' point of view, the docodonts are basal mammals and usually placed in the paraphyletic subclass Allotheria.

Docodonts are thought to have been primarily herbivorous or insectivorous, although Castorocauda has teeth which suggest it ate fish.

References

* G. V. R. Prasad and B. K. Manhas. "First docodont mammals of Laurasian affinity from India". Current Science. November 10, 2001.

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Source: Wikipedia , Wikispecies: All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License