Eurymylidae is a family of extinct simplicidentates. Most authorities consider them to be basal to all modern rodents and may have been the ancestral stock whence the most recent common ancestor of all modern rodents (crown rodents) arose. However, the more completely known eurymylids, including Eurymylus, Heomys, Matutinia, and Rhombomylus, appear to represent a monophyletic side branch not directly ancestral to rodents (Meng et al., 2003). Huang et al. (2004) have argued that Hanomys, Matutinia, and Rhombomylus form a clade characterized by distinctive features of the skull and dentition that should be recognized as a separate family, Rhombomylidae. Eurymylids are only known from Asia.

Eurymylidae
Temporal range: Early Paleocene–Middle Eocene
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: incertae sedis
Family: Eurymylidae
Matthew, Granger, & Simpson, 1929[1]
Genera[2]

Classification

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Modified from McKenna and Bell (1997) following generic taxonomy of Ting et al. (2002) and Huang et al. (2004)

References

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  1. ^ W. D. Matthew, W. Granger, and G. G. Simpson. 1929. Additions to the fauna of the Gashato Formation of Mongolia. American Museum Novitates 376:1–12
  2. ^ "†family Eurymylidae Matthew et al. 1929 (placental)". Archived from the original on 7 December 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2024.

Further reading

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  • R. J. Asher, J. Meng, J. R. Wible, M. C. McKenna, G. W. Rougier, D. Dashzeveg, and M. J. Novacek. 2005. Stem lagomorpha and the antiquity of Glires. Science 307:1091–1094
  • R. L. Carroll. 1988. Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolution 1–698
  • D. Dashzeveg and D. E. Russell. 1988. Palaeocene and Eocene Mixodontia (Mammalia, Glires) of Mongolia and China. Palaeontology 31(1):129–164
  • C. Li. 1977. Paleocene eurymyloids (Anagalida, Mammalia) of Qianshan Anhui. Vertebrata PalAsiatica 15:103–118
  • F. S. Szalay and Malcolm C. McKenna. 1971. Beginning of the Age of Mammals in Asia: the Late Paleocene Gashato fauna, Mongolia. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 144(4):269–318