Cedaromys
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Extinct (fossil)
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Cedaromys ("Cedar mouse") is an extinct mammal which lived during the Upper Cretaceous, at the same time as many dinosaurs. It was a member of the also extinct order of Multituberculata. It's within the suborder of Cimolodonta, and a possible member of the Paracimexomys group.
The genus Cedaromys was named by Eaton J.G. and Cifelli R.L. in 2001. As it was first published after their study, Kielan-Jaworowska Z & Hurum JH (2001) didn't comment upon the placement of this genus. It might belong elsewhere.
The species Cedaromys bestia was also named by Eaton and Cifelli in 2001. Fossils have been found in Albian (late) - Cenomanian (early), (both Upper Cretaceous)-aged strata of the Cedar Mountain Formation in Utah (USA). This is perhaps the fossil formerly known as Paracimexomys bestia (Eaton JG & Nelson ME, 1991).
Fossils of the species Cedaromys parvus (Eaton & Cifelli, 2001) have been found in strata of the same age in the Cedar Mountain Formation. This species is also in the Oklahoma collection. Suggested bodyweight is around 90 g.
[edit] References
- Eaton & Cifelli (2001), "Multituberculate mammals from near the Early-Late Cretaceous boundary, Cedar Mountain Formation, Utah". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 46(4), p.453-518.
- Kielan-Jaworowska Z & Hurum JH (2001), "Phylogeny and Systematics of multituberculate mammals". Paleontology 44, p.389-429.
- Much of this information has been derived from [1] MESOZOIC MAMMALS; 'basal' Cimolodonta, Cimolomyidae, Boffidae and Kogaionidae, an Internet directory.
