Skeleton of Diacodexis , Oldest Known Artiodactyl
1982; American Association for the Advancement of Science; Volume: 216; Issue: 4546 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1126/science.216.4546.621
ISSN1095-9203
Autores Tópico(s)Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
ResumoA nearly complete skeleton of early Eocene Diacodexis, the oldest known member of the mammalian order Artiodactyla, is described. Its slender, elongate limb elements indicate that Diacodexis was highly cursorial and closer in postcranial adaptations to tragulids and other primitive ruminants than to living or extinct nonruminant artiodactyls. Its skeletal specializations call into question the widespread notion that Diacodexis was the ancestor of all later artiodactyls.
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