Ctenacodon (Plagiaulacidae)
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Extinct (fossil)
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"Ctenacodon" (not Ctenacodon) is an extinct mammal from the Upper Jurassic of North America. It was a member of the also extinct order of Multituberculata, suborder Plagiaulacida, family Plagiaulacidae, and lived at the same time as more famous creatures such as Allosaurus.
The genus "Ctenacodon" is known from one species, "Ctenacodon" brentbaatar (Bakker, 1998), the fossil remains of which were found in the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation in Wyoming, USA. Identification is based on a well-preserved upper tooth (1 mm long).
The species name honours the Wyoming paleontologist Brent Breithaupt. Baatar, Mongolian for "hero", is apparently a reference to the heroics involved in surviving while being very small and surrounded by dinosaurs.
[edit] References
- R.T. Bakker (1998), "Dinosaur mid-life crisis: the Jurassic-Cretaceous transition in Wyoming and Colorado", in: S.G. Lucas, J.I. Kirkland and J. Estep (eds.), "Lower and Middle Cretaceous terrestrial ecosystems", New Mexico Museum of Natural History Bulletin 14, p.67-77.
- Z. Kielan-Jaworowska and J.H. Hurum (2001), "Phylogeny and Systematics of multituberculate mammals", Paleontology 44, p.389-429.
- MESOZOIC MAMMALS; Plagiaulacidae, Albionbaataridae, Eobaataridae & Arginbaataridae, an Internet directory.
