Hapalodectes

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Hapalodectes
Fossil range: Late Paleocene - Early Eocene
Hapalodectes serus
Hapalodectes serus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Mesonychia
Family: Hapalodectidae
Genus: Hapalodectes
Species
  • H. anthracinus
  • H. hetangensis
  • H. dux
  • H. leptognathus
  • H. lovei
  • H. serus

Hapalodectes (literally "Soft Biter" hapalos = "soft, tender," dêktês = "biter") was a genus of otter-like mesonychid from the Late Paleocene to Early Eocene some 55 milion years ago. Although the first fossils were found in Eocene strata of Wyoming, the genus originated in Mongolia, as the oldest species is H. dux, was found in Late Paleocene strata in the Naran Bulak Formation[1] The genus is suggested to be related to the Archaeoceti, such as Pakicetus, due to extreme similarities between the two genera's skull and teeth anatomies.

[edit] References

  1. ^ [1]The Earliest Hapalodectes (Mesonychia, Mammalia) from the Paleocene of Mongolia.
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