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Argyrolagus

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Extinct genus of marsupials

Argyrolagus
Temporal range: Early Pliocene (Montehermosan-Chapadmalalan)
~5.3–3.6 Ma PreꞒ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Argyrolagus palmeri
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Polydolopimorphia
Suborder: Bonapartheriiformes
Family: Argyrolagidae
Genus: Argyrolagus
Ameghino 1904
Type species
Argyrolagus palmeri

Argyrolagus is an extinct genus of South American metatherian, belonging to the order Polydolopimorpha from the Early Pliocene Monte Hermoso Formation, Patagonia, Argentina.

Description

Jumping on its hind legs, the 15–20-centimetre (5.9–7.9 in) long (without tail) Argyrolagus resembled a gerbil or kultarr. It had a long tail for balance, and a narrow head with a pointed snout. Judging from its huge eyes, Argyrolagus was nocturnal. The form of its teeth suggest that it would have fed on desert plants. A 2019 study confirmed that Argyrolagus was probably adapted for bipedal jumping and was probably also well adapted for digging.

See also

References

  1. Argyrolagus at Fossilworks.org
  2. 新版 絶滅哺乳類図鑑. Yukimitsu Tomida. 30 January 2011.
  3. Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 203. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.
  4. Abello, María Alejandra; Candela, Adriana Magdalena (2020). "Paleobiology of Argyrolagus (Marsupialia, Argyrolagidae): an astonishing case of bipedalism among South American mammals". Journal of Mammalian Evolution. 27 (3): 419–444. doi:10.1007/s10914-019-09470-z. S2CID 254693227.
Metatheria
Synapsida
Cynodontia
Mammalia
Metatheria
    • see below↓
Metatheria
Metatheria
Deltatheroida
Deltatheridiidae
Marsupialiformes
Sparassodonta
    • see below↓
Asiatheriidae
Archimetatheria
Stagodontidae
Pediomyoidea
Peradectidae
Alphadontidae
Herpetotheriidae
Anatoliadelphyidae
Polydolopimorphia
    • see below↓
Marsupialia
Didelphodon vorax

Alphadon sp.

Herpetotherium fugax
Sparassodonta
Sparassodonta
Hathliacynidae
Borhyaenoidea
Borhyaenidae
Proborhyaenidae
Thylacosmilidae
Thylacosmilus atrox
Polydolopimorphia
Polydolopimorphia
Bonapartheriiformes
Bonapartheriidae
Argyrolagidae
Chulpasiinae
Prepidolopidae
Rosendolopidae
Polydolopiformes
Polydolopidae
Sillustaniidae
Argyrolagus palmeri
Taxon identifiers
Argyrolagus


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