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Notopolytheles joelis

Osteichthyes - Multituberculata - Neoplagiaulacidae

Taxonomy
Notopolytheles joelis was named by Gelfo et al. (2025). Its type specimen is MPEF-PV 12400, a set of teeth (an isolated left M1), and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Notopolytheles joelis type locality, which is in a Maastrichtian terrestrial horizon in the La Colonia Formation of Argentina. It is the type species of Notopolytheles.

Synonymy list
YearName and author
2025Notopolytheles joelis Gelfo et al. p. 2 fig. 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
RankNameAuthor
—Cotylosauria()
—Amniota
subclassSynapsida
—Therapsida()
infraorderCynodontia()
—Mammaliamorpha
—Mammaliaformes
classMammalia
—Allotheria()
orderMultituberculataCope 1884
suborderCimolodonta()
superfamilyPtilodontoidea()
familyNeoplagiaulacidae
genusNotopolytheles
speciesjoelis

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.

†Notopolytheles joelis Gelfo et al. 2025
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Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
J. N. Gelfo et al. 2025M1 cusp formula (7B:8M:4L). Notopolytheles joelis differs from ‘Plagiaulacida’ multituberculates in having an M1 third lingual row with four well-developed cusps at the same level as the middle row of cusps, plus a short mesial crest. This third row of cusps is absent in Paulchoffatiidae, whereas it is present as an incipient posterolingual ridge in Allodontidae and Plagiaulacidae. Differs from all other Cimolodonta, especially Neoplagiaulacidae, by the unique configuration of the cusp rows, being the lingual and medial rows of the same height and higher than those of the buccal row, and by the presence of a large labial root that runs mesiodistally below the labial side of the tooth, and two smaller and rounded lingual roots on the distal and mesial sides.
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Environment: terrestrialc
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Life habit: arborealsubo
Diet: omnivoref
Created: 2005-09-11 16:54:47
Modified: 2005-09-11 18:54:47
Source: f = family, subo = suborder, c = class, subp = subphylum
References: Hopson 1973, Gunnell et al. 1995, Hendy et al. 2009, Krause 1982, Carroll 1988

Age range: Maastrichtian or 72.20000 to 66.00000 Ma

Collections: one only


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Maastrichtian72.2 - 66.0Argentina (Chubut) Notopolytheles joelis (type locality: 240254)