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Mergenomys orientalis

Osteichthyes - Rodentia - Gobiomyidae

Taxonomy
Mergenomys orientalis was named by Dashzeveg and Meng (1998). Its type specimen is PSS 41/43,, a mandible (a fragment of right upper jaw with dP4, Ml and M2), and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Mergen (Quarry 1), which is in an Eocene terrestrial horizon in Mongolia. It is the type species of Mergenomys.

Synonymy list
YearName and author
1998Mergenomys orientalis Dashzeveg and Meng pp. 3 - 4 fig. 3

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
Bilateria
EubilateriaAx 1987
Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
classOsteichthyes
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
Tetrapoda
Reptiliomorpha
Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
Cotylosauria()
Amniota
subclassSynapsida
Therapsida()
infraorderCynodontia()
RankNameAuthor
Mammaliamorpha
Mammaliaformes
classMammalia
Cladotheria
Zatheria
subclassTribosphenida()
subclassTheria
Eutheria()
Placentalia
Boreoeutheria
EuarchontogliresMurphy et al. 2001
GliriformesWyss and Meng 1996
Glires()
Simplicidentata()
orderRodentiaBowdich 1821
CtenohystricaHuchon et al. 2000
superfamilyCtenodactyloidea
familyGobiomyidae
genusMergenomys
speciesorientalis

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Mergenomys orientalis Dashzeveg and Meng 1998
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Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
D. Dashzeveg and J. Meng 1998Small ctenodactyloid. Cheek teeth quadrate, brachydont and more cuspate than lophate; masseteric fossa extending to below anterior edge of ml. Posterior root of zygomatic arch at anterior end of P4. Upper molars differing from those of other early ctenodactyloids in lacking a crest (entoloph) between protocone and hypocone (except Viriosomys and some yuomyids; see Tong, 1997), protoconule absent, lingual end of anterior cingulum expanded to form a small anterocone, large metaconule isolated from protocone and a large hypocone. Lower molars differing from those of early ctenodactyloids in having short but more lingually positioned ectolophid; ectolophid connecting hypoconid and protoconid; absence of mesoconid; weak hypolophid leading from a conical entoconid to mid-ectolophid; large hypoconulid connecting the hypoconid by a weak ridge; and ml considerably smaller than m2. Differs from ctenodactylids in being less lophodont and possessing a large metaconule and possibly having P3.
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Environment: terrestrialsubc
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Life habit: ground dwellingo
Diet: herbivoreo
Reproduction: viviparoussubc
Created: 2005-08-26 14:04:46
Modified: 2005-08-26 16:04:46
Source: o = order, subc = subclass, c = class, subp = subphylum
References: Ji et al. 2002, Carroll 1988, Lillegraven 1979, Hendy et al. 2009, Nowak 1999

Age range: Middle Eocene or 48.07000 to 37.71000 Ma

Collections: one only


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Middle Eocene48.07 - 37.71Mongolia Mergenomys orientalis (type locality: 174909)