Project 157: J. R. Wible, G. W. Rougier, M. J. Novacek, R. J. Asher. 2007. Cretaceous eutherians and Laurasian origin for placental mammals near the K/T boundary. Nature. 447:1003-1006.
Specimen: Maelestes (MAE/PSS:607)
View: basicranium ventral

Abstract

Estimates of the time of origin for placental mammals from DNA studies span nearly the duration of the Cretaceous period (145 to 65 million years ago), with a maximum of 129 million years ago and a minimum of 78 million years ago. Palaeontologists too are divided on the timing. Some support a deep Cretaceous origin by allying certain middle Cretaceous fossils (97 to 90 million years old) from Uzbekistan with modern placental lineages, whereas others support the origin of crown group Placentalia near the close of the Cretaceous. This controversy has yet to be addressed by a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis that includes all well-known Cretaceous fossils and a wide sample of morphology among Tertiary and recent placentals. Here we report the discovery of a new well-preserved mammal from the Late Cretaceous of Mongolia and a broad-scale phylogenetic analysis. Our results exclude Cretaceous fossils from Placentalia, place the origin of Placentalia near the Cretaceous/Tertiary (K/T) boundary in Laurasia rather than much earlier within the Cretaceous in the Southern Hemisphere and place afrotherians and xenarthrans in a nested rather than a basal position within Placentalia.


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Project DOI: 10.7934/P157, http://dx.doi.org/10.7934/P157
This project containsMatrices
  • 1 Media
  • 1 Matrix
  • 69 Taxa
  • 1 Specimen
  • 408 Characters
Total size of project's media files: 1.35M

Download Project SDD File
Total scored cells: 17146
Total media associated with cells: 0
Total labels associated with cell media: 0
Characters
Total characters: 408
Total characters with associated media: 0
Total characters with media with labels: 0
Total character states: 1019
Total character states with associated media: 0
Total character states with media with labels:0
Total unordered/ordered characters:408/0
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MorphoBank Project 157

    This research
    supported by

    Authors' Institutions

    • University of Cambridge

    • University of Louisville

    • American Museum of Natural History

    • Carnegie Museum of Natural History



    Members

    member name taxa specimens media media
    notes
    chars character
    notes  media
    labels
    cell scorings
    (scored, NPA, "-")
    cell
    notes  medialabels
    rules
    Michael Novacek
    Project Administrator
    6900040800017146
    (15846, 0, 1300)
    0000
    Robert Asher
    Observer
    000000000
    (0, 0, 0)
    0000
    Guillermo Rougier
    Full membership
    000000000
    (0, 0, 0)
    0000
    John Wible
    Full membership
    000000000
    (0, 0, 0)
    0000


    Taxonomic Overview for Matrix 'M430' (69 Taxa)

    taxon unscored
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    scored
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    "-" cellscell images labels on
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    [1] Nanolestes
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    281113112015004
    [2] Peramus
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    270127123015004
    [3] Vincelestes
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    9372371028004
    [4] Kielantherium
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    324787608004
    [5] Deltatheridium
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    133265263012004
    [6] Mayulestes
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    51341341016004
    [7] Pucadelphys
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    27366366015004
    [8] Eomaia
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    22118618403004
    [9] Prokennalestes
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    21719418803004
    [10] Murtoilestes
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    346595903004
    [11] Bobolestes
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    29811010802004
    [12] Montanalestes
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    337767001004
    [13] Paranyctoides
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    30111310700004
    [14] Eozhelestes
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    367434100004
    [15] Sheikhdzheilia
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    336747101004
    [16] Alostera
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    350585800004
    [17] Lainodon
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    385232300004
    [18] Avitotherium
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    336727002004
    [19] Gallolestes
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    365444300004
    [20] Parazhelestes
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    25215715303004
    [21] Aspanlestes
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    25715414803004
    [22] Zhelestes
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    24117116403004
    [23] Cimolestes
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    24616615705004
    [24] Maelestes
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    9232231303004
    [25] Batodon
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    30210510303004
    [26] Bulaklestes
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    3041019905004
    [27] Daulestes
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    3071009704004
    [28] Uchkudukodon
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    150258248010004
    [29] Kennalestes
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    100299296012004
    [30] Asioryctes
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    61336333014004
    [31] Ukhaatherium
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    47349347014004
    [32] Deccanolestes
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    29211511303004
    [33] Kulbeckia
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    204204194010004
    [34] Zhangolestes
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    357525100004
    [35] Alymlestes
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    387212100004
    [36] Zalambdalestes
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    39370358011004
    [37] Barunlestes
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    112283281015004
    [38] Gypsonictops
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    28113512601004
    [39] Leptictis
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    11388387010004
    [40] Purgatorius
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    30210610303004
    [41] Protungulatum
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    19521420607004
    [42] Oxyprimus
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    30410210004004
    [43] Vulpavus
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    7833632208004
    [44] Miacis
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    12428527707004
    [45] Diacodexis
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    8331931609004
    [46] Hyopsodus
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    30377367011004
    [47] Meniscotherium
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    3037537008004
    [48] Phenacodus
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    49359349010004
    [49] Ptilocercus
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    1396394013004
    [50] Plesiadapis
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    33373356019004
    [51] Northarctus
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    29372364015004
    [52] Adapis
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    50352342016004
    [53] Tribosphenomys
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    231149149028004
    [54] Paramys
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    24344339045004
    [55] Rhombomylus
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    18354347043004
    [56] Gomphos
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    98276274036004
    [57] Mimotona
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    255126122031004
    [58] Blarina
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    22366359027004
    [59] Erinaceus
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    3395385020004
    [60] Solenodon
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    10375374024004
    [61] Eoryctes
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    194208203011004
    [62] Potamogale
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    7376376025004
    [63] Orycteropus
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    102832760122004
    [64] Rhynchocyon
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    8370368032004
    [65] Procavia
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    2384377029004
    [66] Moeritherium
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    105268266037004
    [67] Chaetophractus
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    12822820125004
    [68] Bradypus
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    12772740133004
    [69] Tamandua
    Last Modified in 12/05/13
    142472450149004


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