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Afrotheria

Mammalia

Synonyms
Synonymy list
YearName and author
1998Afrotheria Stanhope et al. p. 9971
1999Afrotheria Waddell et al. p. cover
2001Afrotheria Madsen et al. p. 610
2001Afrotheria Phillips et al. p. 1535
2001Afrotheria Waddell et al. p. 148 figs. Figure 3
2007Afrotheria Wible et al.
2010Afrotheria Asher and Helgen p. 3

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
—Bilateria
—EubilateriaAx 1987
—Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
—Osteichthyes()
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
—Tetrapoda
—Reptiliomorpha
—Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
—Cotylosauria()
RankNameAuthor
—Amniota
subclassSynapsida
—Therapsida()
infraorderCynodontia()
—Mammaliamorpha
—Mammaliaformes
classMammalia
—Cladotheria
—Zatheria
subclassTribosphenida()
subclassTheria
—Eutheria()
—Placentalia
superorderAfrotheria
superorderAfrotheria

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.

Superor. Afrotheria Stanhope et al. 1998
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Unr. Afroinsectiphilia Waddell et al. 2001
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Unr. Afroinsectivora Waddell et al. 2001
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Or. Macroscelidea Butler 1956 [elephant shrew]
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Fm. †Adapisoricidae Schlosser 1887
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G. †Adapisorex Lemoine 1883
G. †Adunator Russell 1964
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†Adunator abditus Secord 2008
†Adunator amplus Secord 2008
†Adunator fredericki Rigby, Jr. 1980
†Adunator ladae Simpson 1935
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Invalid names: Mckennatherium libitum Van Valen 1965 [synonym]
†Adunator lehmani Russell 1964
†Adunator martinezi Rigby, Jr. 1980
†Adunator meizon Gingerich 1983
†Adunator minutus Jepsen 1930
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Invalid names: Scenopagus proavus Winterfeld 1982 [synonym]
Invalid names: Mckennatherium Van Valen 1965 [synonym]
Fm. †Afrohypselodontidae Senut and Pickford 2021
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G. †Afrohypselodontus Senut and Pickford 2021
Fm. †Amphilemuridae Hill 1953
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G. †Alsaticopithecus Hürzeler 1947
G. †Amphilemur Heller 1935
G. †Gesneropithex Hürzeler 1946
Subfm. †Hylomysoidinae Tong and Wang 2006
G. †Macrocranion Weitzel 1949
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Invalid names: Aculeodens Weitzel 1949 [synonym], Dormaalius Quinet 1964 [synonym]
G. †Neomatronella Russell et al. 1975
G. †Pholidocercus von Koenigswald and Storch 1983
G. †Zionodon Dunn and Rasmussen 2009
Invalid names: Amphilemurinae Hill 1953 [empty], Dormaaliidae Quinet 1964 [synonym]
Fm. †Apheliscidae Matthew 1918
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G. †Aletodon Gingerich 1977
Subfm. †Apheliscinae Matthew 1918
G. †Apheliscus Cope 1875
G. †Dorraletes Gingerich 1983
G. †Gingerichia Zack et al. 2005
G. †Haplaletes Simpson 1935
G. †Haplomylus Matthew 1915
G. †Litomylus Simpson 1935
Subfm. †Louisininae Sudre and Russell 1982
G. †Phenacodaptes Jepsen 1930
G. †Utemylus Gingerich 1983
G. †Litocherus Gingerich 1983
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†Litocherus lacunatus Gazin 1956
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Invalid names: Litomylus alphamon Van Valen 1978 [synonym]
†Litocherus notissimus Simpson 1936
†Litocherus zygeus Gingerich 1983
Fm. †Louisinidae Hooker and Russell 2012
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G. †Berrulestes Hooker and Russell 2012
G. †Cingulodon De Bast and Smith 2017
G. †Dipavali Van Valen 1978
G. †Gigarton Hooker and Russell 2012
G. †Louisina Russell 1964
G. †Monshyus Sudre and Russell 1982
G. †Prolouisina Hooker and Russell 2012
G. †Thryptodon Hooker and Russell 2012
G. †Walbeckodon Hooker and Russell 2012
Fm. Macroscelididae Bonaparte 1838 [elephant shrew]
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Subfm. †Herodotiinae Simons et al. 1991
Subfm. Macroscelidinae Bonaparte 1838
Subfm. †Mylomygalinae Camp et al. 1953
Subfm. †Namasenginae Senut and Pickford 2021
Fm. †Myohyracidae Andrews 1914
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G. †Myohyrax Andrews 1914
G. †Promyohyrax Senut and Pickford 2021
G. †Protypotheroides Stromer 1922
Fm. †Rhynchocyonidae Gill 1872
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G. †Brevirhynchocyon Senut and Pickford 2021
G. †Eorhynchocyon Senut and Pickford 2021
G. †Hypsorhynchocyon Senut 2008
G. †Miorhynchocyon Butler 1984
G. Rhynchocyon Peters 1847
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Invalid names: Rhinonax Thomas 1918 [synonym]
Invalid names: Dipogales Murray 1866 [synonym]
Superfm. Tenrecoidea Hay 1930
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Fm. Chrysochloridae Gray 1825 [golden mole]
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G. Amblysomus Pomel 1848 [African golden mole]
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Invalid names: Calcochloris Mivart 1867 [synonym], Chrysotrica Broom 1907 [synonym], Huetia Forcart 1942 [synonym]
G. Carpitalpa Lundholm 1955 [Arend's golden mole]
G. Chlorotalpa Roberts 1924
G. Chrysochloris Lacépède 1799 [Cape golden mole]
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Invalid names: Aspalax Desmarest 1804 [synonym], Chrysoris Rafinesque 1815 [synonym], Ducantalpa Boitard 1842 [synonym], Engyscopus Gistel 1848 [synonym], Kilimatalpa Lundholm 1955 [synonym]
G. Chrysospalax Gill 1883 [giant golden mole]
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Invalid names: Bematiscus Cope 1892 [synonym]
G. Cryptochloris Shortridge and Carter 1938
G. †Damarachloris Pickford 2019
G. †Diamantochloris Pickford 2015
G. Eremitalpa Roberts 1924 [Grant's golden mole]
G. †Namachloris Pickford 2015
G. Neamblysomus Roberts 1924
G. †Proamblysomus Broom 1941
Subfm. †Prochrysochlorinae Butler 1984
Invalid names: Amblysominae Simonetta 1957 [synonym], Chrysochlorinae [empty], Eremitalpinae Simonetta 1957 [synonym]
G. †Plesiorycteropus Filhol 1895
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Invalid names: Majoria Thomas 1915 [synonym]
Fm. Potamogalidae Allman 1866
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G. †Namagale Pickford 2015
G. Potamogale Du Chaillu 1860
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Invalid names: Bayonia Barboza du Bocage 1865 [synonym], Mythomys Gray 1861 [objective synonym]
G. †Qatranilestes Seiffert 2010
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†Qatranilestes oligocaenus Seiffert 2010
Fm. Tenrecidae Gray 1821 [tenrec]
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G. †Arenagale Pickford 2015
G. Echinops Martin 1838 [lesser hedgehog tenrec]
G. Geogale Milne-Edwards and Grandidier 1872 [large-eared tenrec]
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Invalid names: Cryptogale Grandidier 1928 [synonym]
Subfm. †Geogalinae Trouessart 1879
G. Limnogale Major 1896
G. Microgale Thomas 1882 [shrew tenrec]
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Invalid names: Leptogale Thomas 1918 [synonym], Nesogale Thomas 1918 [synonym], Paramicrogale Grandidier and Petit 1931 [synonym]
G. †Ndamathaia Jacobs et al. 1987
Subfm. Oryzorictinae Dobson 1882
Subfm. †Potamogalinae
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Invalid names: Mystomyidae Cope 1883 [synonym]
G. †Promicrogale Pickford 2018
Subfm. †Protenrecinae Butler 1969
G. Setifer Froriep 1806 [greater hedgehog tenrec]
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Invalid names: Ericulus Saint Hilaire 1837 [synonym], Hericulus Gloger 1841 [synonym], Tendrac Blainville 1838 [synonym]
G. †Sperrgale Pickford 2015
G. Tenrec Lacépède 1799 [tail-less tenrec]
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Invalid names: Centetes Illiger 1811 [synonym], Tanrecus Blainville 1838 [synonym]
Subfm. †Tenrecinae Gray 1821
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Invalid names: Centetina Bonaparte 1838 [synonym], Echinogalinae Murray 1866 [synonym]
Invalid names: Centetidae Murray 1866 [synonym]
Invalid names: Afrosoricida Stanhope et al. 1998 [invalid subgroup], Centetoidea Gill 1872 [synonym], Tenrecomorpha Butler 1972 [synonym]
Invalid names: Haemochorialia [synonym]
Or. Tubulidentata Huxley 1872 [aardvark]
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Fm. Orycteropodidae Gray 1821
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Subfm. Orycteropodinae Gray 1821
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G. †Leptorycteropus Patterson 1975
G. †Myorycteropus MacInnes 1955
G. Orycteropus Geoffroy 1791 [aardvark]
Invalid names: Orycteropodina Bonaparte 1850 [empty]
Invalid names: Fossoromorpha [synonym]
Unr. †Paenungulatomorpha Gheerbrant et al. 2016
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G. †Abdounodus Gheerbrant et al. 2001
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†Abdounodus hamdii Gheerbrant et al. 2001
G. †Hadrogeneios Gheerbrant 2023
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†Hadrogeneios phosphaticus Gheerbrant 2023
G. †Ocepeia Gheerbrant et al. 2001
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†Ocepeia daouiensis Gheerbrant et al. 2001
†Ocepeia grandis Gheerbrant et al. 2014
Superor. Paenungulata Simpson 1945
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Or. Hyracoidea Huxley 1869 [hyrax]
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G. †Dimaitherium Barrow et al. 2010
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†Dimaitherium patnaiki Barrow et al. 2010
G. †Namahyrax Pickford et al. 2008
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†Namahyrax corvus Pickford et al. 2008
Fm. †Pliohyracidae Matsumoto 1926
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Subfm. †Geniohyinae Matsumoto 1926
G. †Hengduanshanhyrax Cheng 2003
G. †Kvabebihyrax Gabunia and Vekua 1966
G. †Megalohyrax Andrews 1903
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Invalid names: Mixohyrax Schlosser 1910 [synonym]
G. †Meroehyrax Whitworth 1954
G. †Pachyhyrax Schlosser 1910
G. †Parapliohyrax Lavocat 1961
Subfm. †Pliohyracinae Osborn 1899
G. †Pliohyrax Osborn 1899
G. †Postschizotherium von Koenigswald 1932
Subfm. Saghatheriinae Andrews 1906
G. †Selenohyrax Rasmussen and Simons 1988
G. †Sogdohyrax Dubrovo 1978
Fm. Procaviidae Thomas 1892 [hyrax]
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G. Dendrohyrax Gray 1868 [tree hyrax]
G. †Gigantohyrax Kitching 1965
G. Heterohyrax Gray 1868 [rock hyrax]
G. Procavia Storr 1780 [Cape hyrax]
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Invalid names: Euhyrax Gray 1868 [synonym], Hyrax Herman 1783 [synonym]
G. †Prohyrax Stromer 1926
Invalid names: Hyracidae Gray 1821 [synonym]
G. †Rukwalorax Stevens et al. 2009
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†Rukwalorax jinokitana Stevens et al. 2009
Fm. †Titanohyracidae Matsumoto 1926
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G. †Afrohyrax Pickford 2004
G. †Antilohyrax Rasmussen and Simons 2000
G. †Rupestrohyrax Pickford 2015
G. †Titanohyrax Matsumoto 1922
Invalid names: Procaviamorpha Whitworth 1954 [empty], Pseudhippomorpha Whitworth 1954 [empty]
Unr. †Sudamericungulata Avilla and Mothé 2021
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Or. †Astrapotheria Lydekker 1894
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G. †Antarctodon Bond et al. 2011
Fm. †Astrapotheriidae Ameghino 1887
Fm. †Eoastrapostylopidae Soria and Powell 1981
Fm. †Trigonostylopidae Ameghino 1901
Invalid names: Astrapotheroidea Ameghino 1894 [synonym], Blastoconus Roth 1903 [nomen dubium], Blastoconus robertsoni Roth 1904 [nomen dubium], Grypolophodon Roth 1903 [nomen vanum], Grypolophodon morenoi Roth 1904 [nomen vanum], Grypolophodon tuberculosis Roth 1904 [nomen vanum], Notorhinus Roth 1903 [nomen vanum], Notorhinus haroldi Roth 1904 [nomen vanum]
Or. †Notoungulata Roth 1903 [notoungulate]
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G. †Acoelodus Ameghino 1897
G. †Allalmeia Rusconi 1946
G. †Archaeogaia Zimicz et al. 2020
Fm. †Archaeopithecidae Ameghino 1897
G. †Archaeoplus Ameghino 1898
Subor. †Entelonychia
G. †Eudiastatus Ameghino 1891
G. †Eurystephanodon Roth 1903
Subor. †Hegetotheria Simpson 1945
Fm. †Henricosborniidae Ameghino 1901
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Invalid names: Pantostylopidae Ameghino 1901 [synonym], Selenoconidae Ameghino 1902 [synonym]
G. †Heterolophodon Roth 1904
Subor. †Notioprogonia Simpson 1934
Unr. †Notopithecidae Ameghino 1897
Fm. †Notostylopidae Ameghino 1897
Fm. †Oldfieldthomasiidae Simpson 1945
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Invalid names: Acoelodidae Ameghino 1901 [synonym]
Subor. †Toxodontia Ameghino 1887
Subor. †Typotheria Zittel 1892
Subor. †Typotheroidea
Invalid names: Albertogaudryidae Ameghino 1901 [empty], Archaeotypotherium transitum Roth 1904 [nomen vanum], Brandmayria Cabrera 1935 [nomen dubium], Carolodarwinia Ameghino 1901 [nomen dubium], Carolodarwinia pyramidentata Ameghino 1901 [nomen dubium], Claenodon patagonicus Ameghino 1904 [nomen dubium], Degonia sympathica Roth 1902 [nomen dubium], Edvardocopeia Ameghino 1901 [nomen dubium], Edvardocopeia sinuosa Ameghino 1901 [nomen dubium], Epitypotherium cancellatum Ameghino 1904 [nomen dubium], Homalodotheria [empty], Isotypotherium Ameghino 1904 [nomen dubium], Lophiodonticulus Ameghino 1902 [nomen dubium], Lophiodonticulus patagonicus Ameghino 1902 [nomen dubium], Lophiodonticulus retroversus Ameghino 1902 [nomen dubium], Notopithecus summus Ameghino 1897 [nomen dubium], Orthogenium ameghinoi Roth 1902 [nomen vanum], Ortholophodon Roth 1902 [nomen dubium], Pleurystylops Ameghino 1901 [nomen dubium], Pleurystylops glebosus Ameghino 1901 [nomen dubium], Procolpodon Ameghino 1904 [nomen dubium], Procolpodon foratus Ameghino 1904 [nomen dubium], Pyramidon Roth 1902 [nomen dubium], Pyramidon klaatschi Roth 1902 [nomen dubium], Tonostylops Ameghino 1902 [nomen dubium], Tonostylops spissus Ameghino 1902 [nomen dubium], Trimerostephanos ultimus Ameghino 1901 [nomen vanum], Ultrapithecus robustus Roth 1902 [nomen dubium]
Subor. †Pyrotheria Ameghino 1895
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G. †Carolozittelia Ameghino 1901
G. †Griphodon Anthony 1924
Fm. †Pyrotheridae Ameghino 1894
Fm. †Pyrotheriidae Ameghino 1889
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Invalid names: Carolozittelidae Ameghino 1901 [synonym], Colombitheriidae Hoffstetter 1970 [synonym]
Or. †Xenungulata Paula Couto 1952
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Fm. †Carodniidae Paula Couto 1952
G. †Etayoa Villarroel 1987
G. †Notoetayoa Gelfo et al. 2008
Invalid names: Etayoidae Villarroel 1987 [empty]
Unr. Tethytheria McKenna 1975
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+
Fm. †Arsinoitheriidae Andrews 1904
G. †Lunania Chow 1957
G. †Namatherium Pickford et al. 2008
G. †Stylolophus Gheerbrant et al. 2018
Invalid names: Stylolophidae Gheerbrant et al. 2021 [empty]
Or. Proboscidea Illiger 1811 [proboscidean]
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G. †Arcanotherium Delmer 2009
Subor. †Barytherioidea Simpson 1945
Fm. †Choerolophodontidae Gaziry 1976
G. †Cryptomastodon von Koenigswald 1933
Superfm. †Deinotherioidea Osborn 1936
Subor. Elephantiformes Tassy 1988
Unr. Elephantimorpha Tassy and Shoshani 1997
G. †Eritherium Gheerbrant 2009
Fm. †Gomphotheriidae Hay 1922 [gomphothere]
Subor. †Mastodontoidea Osborn 1921
Superfm. †Moeritherioidea Osborn 1921
G. †Neodesmostylus Khomenko 1928
G. †Phiomia Andrews and Beadnell 1902
Unr. †Plesielephantiformes Shoshani 2001
G. †Saloumia Tabuce et al. 2020
Invalid names: Caenobasileus Cope 1877 [nomen vanum], Caenobasileus tremontigerus Cope 1877 [nomen vanum], Deinotherioidea Osborn 1936 [empty], Dinotherioidea Osborn 1921 [empty], Euelephantoidea [empty], Hemimastodontidae McKenna and Bell 1997 [empty], Mastodontidae Gray 1821 [empty]
Or. Sirenia Illiger 1811 [sirenian]
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Fm. Dugongidae Gray 1821 [dugong]
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Invalid names: Halicorida Brandt 1868 [synonym], Halicoridae Gray 1825 [synonym], Halicoroidea Gill 1872 [synonym]
Fm. †Prorastomidae Cope 1889
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Invalid names: Prorastomatidae Flower and Lydekker 1891 [objective synonym]
Superfm. †Prorastomoidea Heal 1973
Fm. †Protosirenidae Sickenberg 1934
G. †Sobrarbesiren Díaz-Berenguer et al. 2018
Fm. Trichechidae Gray 1821 [manatee]
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Invalid names: Halicorea Brandt 1846 [synonym], Halicoreae Brandt 1833 [objective synonym], Manatida Brandt 1868 [objective synonym], Manatidae Gray 1821 [objective synonym], Manatoidea Gill 1872 [objective synonym], Trichechoidea Gill 1872 [objective synonym]
Invalid names: Anthropocephala Billberg 1827 [objective synonym], Crassitherium Van Beneden 1871 [nomen dubium], Diopia Rafinesque 1815 [objective synonym], Dugongoidea Heal 1973 [empty], Halobioidea Ameghino 1889 [objective synonym], Herbivorae Gray 1821 [synonym], Manatherium Hartlaub 1886 [nomen dubium], Manatides Billberg 1827 [objective synonym], Manatina Bonaparte 1837 [objective synonym], Manatus inornatus Leidy 1873 [nomen dubium], Pugmeodon Kaup 1838 [nomen oblitum], Rhytinidae Gill 1872 [empty], Sireniformia Burmeister 1837 [objective synonym], Sirenotherium Paula Couto 1967 [nomen dubium], Sirenotherium pirabense Paula Couto 1967 [nomen dubium], Trichechiformes Hay 1923 [objective synonym]
Invalid names: Behemota McKenna and Bell 1997 [empty]
Invalid names: Uranotheria [synonym]
Invalid names: Afroplacentalia [synonym], Ocepeiidae Gheerbrant et al. 2014 [empty], Pseudoungulata Waddell et al. 1999 [empty]
Diagnosis
No diagnoses are available
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Maximum body mass: 1374.7 kgs
Minimum body mass: 1.3 kgs
Environment: terrestrialsubc
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Life habit: scansorialsubc
Diet: insectivoresubc
Reproduction: viviparoussubc
Created: 2005-09-06 20:43:42
Modified: 2005-09-06 22:44:32
Source: s = species, subc = subclass, c = class, subp = subphylum
References: Hendy et al. 2009, Carroll 1988, Solórzano et al. 2023, Johnson and Madden 1997, Vizcaíno et al. 2010, Lillegraven 1979, Ji et al. 2002

Age range

Maximum range based only on fossils: base of the Puercan to the top of the Holocene or 66.00000 to 0.00000 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 63.8 Ma

Collections (5545 total)

Oldest occurrences

Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Puercan66.0 - 63.8USA (Utah) Haplaletes andakupensis (14790)
Puercan66.0 - 63.8Canada (Saskatchewan) Litomylus orthronepius (14768)
Puercan66.0 - 63.8USA (Montana) Haplaletes andakupensis (14766) Litomylus orthronepius (14809)
Danian66.0 - 61.66Argentina (Chubut) Carodnia feruglioi (235708) Carodnia karuen (13782) Notoetayoa gargantuai, Carodnia feruglioi (79348)
Danian66.0 - 61.66USA (North Dakota) Haplaletes diminutivus, Litolestes lacunatus (14962)
Danian66.0 - 61.66Belgium (Hainaut) Cingulodon magioncaldai, Monshyus praevius (132949)
Danian66.0 - 61.66Bolivia (Mizque) Notoungulata indet. (13501)
Paleogene66.0 - 23.04Libya Halitherium sp. (76981)
Cenozoic66.0 - 0.0Brazil (Amazonas) Trichechus sp. (217666)
To263.8 - 60.9Canada (Alberta) Litomylus sp. (14894)
Torrejonian63.8 - 60.9USA (New Mexico) Haplaletes disceptatrix, Litomylus dissentaneus, Adunator ladae (14893) Haplaletes sp. (14832) Litomylus dissentaneus (14815)
Torrejonian63.8 - 60.9USA (Texas) Haplaletes disceptatrix (14956)
Torrejonian63.8 - 60.9USA (Wyoming) Haplaletes disceptatrix (14896 14904) Haplaletes disceptatrix, Litomylus dissentaneus, Litocherus lacunatus, Adunator ladae (14898) Haplaletes disceptatrix, Litomylus dissentaneus, Mckennatherium fredericki, Mckennatherium martinezi (14886) Haplaletes disceptatrix, Litomylus dissentaneus, Mckennatherium sp., Mckennatherium ladae (14912) Litomylus dissentaneus (14881 14897 14903) Litomylus dissentaneus, Adunator ladae (14879)
Torrejonian63.8 - 60.9USA (Montana) Haplaletes disceptatrix, Litomylus dissentaneus, Mckennatherium ladae (14906)
Torrejonian - Tiffanian63.8 - 56.2USA (Wyoming) Haplaletes disceptatrix (14851) Litomylus scaphicus (14820)
Selandian61.66 - 59.24Belgium Adapisorex sp., Berrulestes sp. (68431)
Selandian61.66 - 59.24Germany (Saxony-Anhalt) Adapisorex abundans, Walbeckodon krumbiegeli, Louisina atavella (74643)
Selandian61.66 - 59.24Morocco Ocepeia daouiensis, Abdounodus hamdii (68176) Ocepeia daouiensis, Hadrogeneios phosphaticus (133217) Ocepeia grandis (154636)
Middle Paleocene - Late/Upper Paleocene61.66 - 56.0Colombia (Bogotá) Etayoa bacatensis (140910)
Selandian - Thanetian61.66 - 56.0Argentina (Jujuy) Simpsonotus major (175869 175870) Simpsonotus praecursor (175868)