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Solanutherium walshi

Osteichthyes - Meridiolestida

Taxonomy
Solanutherium walshi was named by Connelly et al. (2024). Its type specimen is MML-Pv 1235, a set of teeth (Right lower first molar), and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Cerro Tortugas, which is in a Maastrichtian/Maastrichtian fluvial sandstone/siltstone in the Allen Formation of Argentina. It is the type species of Solanutherium.

Entered
by F. Aspromonte (authorized by E. Vlachos) on 2024-06-03; modified by M. Carrano on 2025-06-09

Synonymy list
YearName and author
2024Solanutherium walshi Connelly et al.

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
Bilateria
EubilateriaAx 1987
Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
classOsteichthyes
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
Tetrapoda
Reptiliomorpha
Anthracosauria
RankNameAuthor
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
Cotylosauria()
Amniota
subclassSynapsida
Therapsida()
infraorderCynodontia()
Mammaliamorpha
Mammaliaformes
classMammalia
Cladotheria
Dryolestoidea(Butler 1939)
orderMeridiolestida
genusSolanutherium
specieswalshi

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.

Solanutherium walshi Connelly et al. 2024
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Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
B. E. Connelly et al. 2024Small dryolestoid, similar in size to Groebertherium spp. and Leonardus cuspidatus, but showing similarities with mesungulatids regarding cusp shapes and cingulids. All dental specimens currently referred to this taxon are lower molariforms with tall, relatively sharp cusps and mesially shifted metaconids. The type shows a distinct crest extending buccally from the metaconid towards the protoconid that at least partially divides the trigonid, a feature congruent with the development of a complex occlusal surface which is also present in mesungulatoids. Unlike Cronopio, Groebertherium, Leonardus, and other sharp-toothed meridiolestidans, the new taxon’s lower molariforms possess distinct and well-developed cingulids that nearly circle the crown buccally. These cingulids, like those found in derived mesungulatoids such as Mesungulatum houssayi and Orretherium tzen, extend across both the mesial and distal faces, becoming broader lingually. Although extensive and distinct, the cingulids in Solanutherium are not as developed as in mesungulatoids. The referred lower molariforms have two roots which are unequal in size, a plesiomorphic feature among dryolestoids and basal meridiolestidans; yet they are mesio-distally compressed, resembling in turn the derived condition seen in mesungulatoids.
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Environment: terrestrialc
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Life habit: scansorialuc
Diet: insectivoreuc
Created: 2005-09-06 19:53:51
Modified: 2005-09-07 19:44:02
Source: c = class, subp = subphylum, uc = unranked clade
References: Carroll 1988, Luo et al. 2003, Hopson 1973, Hendy et al. 2009

Age range: base of the Maastrichtian to the top of the Early/Lower Maastrichtian or 72.20000 to 66.00000 Ma

Collections: one only


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Maastrichtian - Early/Lower Maastrichtian72.2 - 66.0Argentina (Río Negro) Brandonia sp. (type locality: 48999)