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Description

A selection of early members of pantodonts, to scale.

This is the second post covering of pantodonts, see also: Before the ungulates - Pantodonts 1

Prior to the radiation of the pantolambodoids and the later coryphodonts, several small groups of relatively unspecialised herbivores paved the way during the Palaeocene for the pantodonts. While most pantodonts have roots in Eurasia or North America, intrigingly one of the earliest species is the only known representative from South America. Alcidedorbignya was a small squirrel-sized species and is known from multiple good skeletal remains from Bolivia. It was probably a nimble beast capable of climbing into trees as well as in the undergrowth. The number of jaws from different aged animals suggests that they lived in groups. While later forms are best known from North America and Europe, most basal forms are found in China. Bemalambda and Hypsilolambda are typical medium-sized species with short low skulls, broad snouts and robust bodies. The dentition of Bemalambda is suggestive of an omnivorous diet. Another small squirrel-sized pantodont were the several species of insectivorous Harpyodus. It was possibly the most primitive member of the Pantodonta clade.

Description

A selection of early members of pantodonts, to scale.

This is the second post covering of pantodonts, see also: Before the ungulates - Pantodonts 1

Prior to the radiation of the pantolambodoids and the later coryphodonts, several small groups of relatively unspecialised herbivores paved the way during the Palaeocene for the pantodonts. While most pantodonts have roots in Eurasia or North America, intrigingly one of the earliest species is the only known representative from South America. Alcidedorbignya was a small squirrel-sized species and is known from multiple good skeletal remains from Bolivia. It was probably a nimble beast capable of climbing into trees as well as in the undergrowth. The number of jaws from different aged animals suggests that they lived in groups. While later forms are best known from North America and Europe, most basal forms are found in China. Bemalambda and Hypsilolambda are typical medium-sized species with short low skulls, broad snouts and robust bodies. The dentition of Bemalambda is suggestive of an omnivorous diet. Another small squirrel-sized pantodont were the several species of insectivorous Harpyodus. It was possibly the most primitive member of the Pantodonta clade.