Jump to content

Argyrolagus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Argyrolagus
Temporal range: Early Pliocene (Montehermosan-Chapadmalalan)
~5.3–3.6 Ma
Argyrolagus palmeri
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Polydolopimorphia
Suborder: Bonapartheriiformes
Family: Argyrolagidae
Genus: Argyrolagus
Ameghino 1904
Type species
Argyrolagus palmeri

Argyrolagus is an extinct genus of South American metatherian, belonging to the order Polydolopimorpha from the Early Pliocene Monte Hermoso Formation, Patagonia, Argentina.[1]

Description

[edit]

Jumping on its hind legs, the 15–20-centimetre (5.9–7.9 in) long (without tail)[2] Argyrolagus resembled a gerbil or kultarr. It had a long tail for balance, and a narrow head with a pointed snout. Judging from its huge eyes, Argyrolagus was nocturnal. The form of its teeth suggest that it would have fed on desert plants.[3] A 2019 study confirmed that Argyrolagus was probably adapted for bipedal jumping and was probably also well adapted for digging.[4]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Argyrolagus at Fossilworks.org
  2. ^ 新版 絶滅哺乳類図鑑. Yukimitsu Tomida. 30 January 2011.
  3. ^ Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 203. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.
  4. ^ Abello, María Alejandra; Candela, Adriana Magdalena (2020). "Paleobiology of Argyrolagus (Marsupialia, Argyrolagidae): an astonishing case of bipedalism among South American mammals". Journal of Mammalian Evolution. 27 (3): 419–444. doi:10.1007/s10914-019-09470-z. S2CID 254693227.