Dryolestidae Marsh 1879
- Dataset
- Vertebrate paleobiodiversity of the Early Cretaceous (Berriasian) Angeac-Charente Lagerstätte (southwestern France): implications for continental faunal turnover at the J / K boundary
- Rank
- FAMILY
Classification
- kingdom
- Animalia
- phylum
- Chordata
- class
- Mammalia
- family
- Dryolestidae
description
(Fig. 34 C-F) DESCRIPTION Dryolestidae are represented by only two fragmentary molars lacking the roots and the talonid (Fig. 34 C-F). Based on the configuration of the trigonid and the lack of a cuspid in median position on the labial side of the molars, those teeth are considered to be left lower molars (Kielan-Jaworowska et al. 2004). Both lower molars are shorter mesiodistally than wide labiolingually, but the most posterior molar (ANG M- 01; Fig. 34 E-F) is strongly shortened and widened compared to the anterior molar (ANG M- 05; Fig. 34 C, D). This feature is diagnostic of Dryolestidae (Kielan-Jaworowska et al. 2004). The trigonid is well-developed in both lower molars. The paraconid of the posterior molar ANG M- 01 is broken at its base, but it is labiolingually more elongated than the metaconid. Both are separated by a narrow incision (Fig. 34 E). The metaconid is enlarged and almost as high as the protoconid (Fig. 34 F). Based on these features, the dryolestid molars from Angeac-Charente seem more closely related to either Guimarotodus from the Kimmeridgian of Guimarota in Portugal (Martin 1999) or Phascolestes from the Berriasian of Dorset in England (Owen 1871; Kielan-Jaworowska et al. 2004) than any other Dryolestidae. However, additional material is required to allow a more accurate attribution.
Name
- Homonyms
- Dryolestidae Marsh 1879