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Cernictis hesperus

Osteichthyes - Carnivora - Mustelidae

Taxonomy
Cernictis hesperus was named by Hall (1935). Its type specimen is UCMP 22968, a mandible (left mandible with p4-m1), and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is UCMP 2572, Pinole Junction Site 1, which is in a Hemphillian terrestrial horizon in the Pinole Tuff Formation of California. It is the type species of Cernictis.

Synonymy list
YearName and author
1935Cernictis hesperus Hall p. 137 figs. 1 - 3
2011Cernictis hesperus Baskin p. 2

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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()
Mammaliamorpha
Mammaliaformes
classMammalia
RankNameAuthor
Cladotheria
Zatheria
subclassTribosphenida()
subclassTheria
Eutheria()
Placentalia
Boreoeutheria
Laurasiatheria
Scrotifera
Ferae()
Pancarnivora
CarnivoramorphaWyss and Flynn 1993
CarnivoraformesFlynn et al.
orderCarnivora
suborderCaniformiaKretzoi 1943
infraorderCanoidea(Simpson 1931)
superfamilyArctoideaFlower 1869
Mustelida
familyMustelidaeBatsch 1788
subfamilyIctonychinaePocock 1921
genusCernictis
specieshesperus

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.

Cernictis hesperus Hall 1935
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Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
E. R. Hall 1935ize (see measurements) slightly greater than in Plionictis parviloba Cope; P4 long with accessory posterior cusp; M1 short, talonid less than half length of trigonid; basal cingulum extended up anterior border of paraconid, giving appearance of concavity to lateral face of paraconid-protoconid blade; metaconid well developed and connected with tip of protoconid by a distinct ridge; talonid semi-basined; base of metaconid continuous with lingual margin of talonid; base of protoconid separated from buccal margin of talonid by distinct notch; basin of talonid enclosed by ridge apparently without well developed entoconic or hypoconid.
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Environment: terrestrialsubc
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Life habit: scansorialf
Diet: carnivoref
Diet 2: omnivoref
Reproduction: viviparoussubc
Created: 2005-06-08 10:11:09
Modified: 2005-08-22 19:38:29
Source: f = family, subc = subclass, c = class, subp = subphylum
References: Carroll 1988, Lillegraven 1979, Nowak 1991, Hendy et al. 2009, Ji et al. 2002

Age range: Hemphillian or 9.40000 to 4.70000 Ma

Collections: one only


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Hemphillian9.4 - 4.7USA (California) Cernictis hesperus (type locality: 19479)