Morphobank

Project 2144: Thomas E. Williamson, Stephen L. Brusatte, Gregory P. Wilson. 2014. The origin and early evolution of metatherian mammals: the Cretaceous record. ZooKeys. 465:1-76.

Specimen: † Asioryctes nemegetensis (unvouchered)
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Abstract

Metatherians, which comprise marsupials and their closest fossil relatives, were one of the most dominant clades of mammals during the Cretaceous and are the most diverse clade of living mammals after Placentalia. Our understanding of this group has increased greatly over the past 20 years, with the discovery of new specimens and the application of new analytical tools. Here we provide a review of the phylogenetic relationships of metatherians with respect to other mammals, discuss the taxonomic definition and diagnosis of Metatheria, outline the Cretaceous history of major metatherian clades, describe the paleobiology, biogeography, and macroevolution of Cretaceous metatherians, and provide a physical and climatic background of Cretaceous metatherian faunas. Metatherians are a clade of boreosphendian mammals that must have originated by the Late Jurassic, but the first unequivocal metatherian fossil is from the Early Cretaceous of Asia. Metatherians have the distinctive tightly interlocking occlusal molar pattern of tribosphenic mammals, but differ from Eutheria in their dental formula and tooth replacement pattern, which may be related to the metatherian reproductive process which includes an extended period of lactation followed by birth of extremely altricial young. Metatherians were widespread over Laurasia during the Cretaceous, with members present in Asia, Europe, and North America by the early Late Cretaceous. In particular, they were taxonomically and morphologically diverse and relatively abundant in the Late Cretaceous of western North America, where they have been used to examine patterns of biogeography, macroevolution, diversification, and extinction through the Late Cretaceous and across the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary. Metatherian diversification patterns suggest that they were not strongly affected by a Cretaceous Terrestrial Revolution, but they clearly underwent a severe extinction across the K-Pg boundary.

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Article DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.465.8178

Project DOI: 10.7934/P2144, http://dx.doi.org/10.7934/P2144

This project contains	Matrices
1 Media 1 Matrix 2 Documents 109 Taxa 1 Specimen 124 Characters Total size of project's media files: 169.35k Download Project SDD File	Total scored cells: 6895 Total media associated with cells: 0 Total labels associated with cell media: 0
	Characters
	Total characters: 124 Total characters with associated media: 0 Total characters with media with labels: 0 Total character states: 283 Total character states with associated media: 0 Total character states with media with labels:0 Total unordered/ordered characters:124/0

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MorphoBank Project 2144

Creation Date:
30 March 2015
Publication Date:
22 May 2015
Matrix downloads: 15

This research
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Authors' Institutions

New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science

University of Edinburgh

University of Washington

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Taxonomic Overview for Matrix 'M23277' (109 Taxa)

taxon	unscored cells	scored cells	no cell support	NPA cells	"-" cells	cell images	labels on cell images	member access
[1] † Vincelestes neuquenianus Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	6	90	87	0	28	0	0	2
[2] † Kielantherium gobiense Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	57	46	46	0	21	0	0	2
[3] † Potamotelses aquilensis Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	62	48	47	0	14	0	0	2
[4] † Juramaia sinensis Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	59	59	58	0	6	0	0	2
[5] † Prokennalestes trofimovi Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	22	96	95	0	6	0	0	2
[6] † Ukhaatherium nessovi Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	48	70	69	0	6	0	0	2
[7] † Asioryctes nemegetensis Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	9	109	108	0	6	0	0	2
[8] † Adelodelphys muizoni Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	72	42	39	0	10	0	0	2
[9] † Aenigmadelphys archeri Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	57	61	56	0	6	0	0	2
[10] † Albertatherium primum Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	79	45	37	0	0	0	0	2
[11] † Albertatherium secundum Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	81	37	33	0	6	0	0	2
[12] † Alphadon attaragos Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	63	61	58	0	0	0	0	2
[13] † Alphadon eatoni Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	100	24	21	0	0	0	0	2
[14] † Alphadon halleyi Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	45	81	74	0	0	0	0	2
[15] † Alphadon marshi Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	56	68	61	0	0	0	0	2
[16] † Alphadon perexiguus Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	63	61	56	0	0	0	0	2
[17] † Alphadon sahnii Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	60	64	59	0	0	0	0	2
[18] † Alphadon wilsoni Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	59	65	60	0	0	0	0	2
[19] † Anchistodelphys archibaldi Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	60	65	59	0	0	0	0	2
[20] † Anchistodelphys delicatus Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	78	36	34	0	10	0	0	2
[21] † Apistodon exiguus Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	80	44	40	0	0	0	0	2
[22] † Aquiladelphis laurae Taxon name last Modified on 05/22/15	90	33	31	0	1	0	0	2
[23] † Aquiladelphis incus Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	59	65	59	0	0	0	0	2
[24] † Aquiladelphis minor Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	66	57	54	0	1	0	0	2
[25] † Arcantiodelphys marchandi Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	79	43	41	0	2	0	0	2
[26] † Armintodelphys blacki Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	100	25	23	0	0	0	0	2
[27] † Armintodelphys dawsoni Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	62	62	59	0	0	0	0	2
[28] † Asiatherium reshetovi Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	29	86	78	0	9	0	0	2
[29] † Atokatheridium boreni Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	58	51	50	0	15	0	0	2
[30] † Bistius bondi Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	83	41	39	0	0	0	0	2
[31] † Copedelphys innominata Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	59	65	61	0	0	0	0	2
[32] † Dakotadens morrowi Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	60	67	59	0	0	0	0	2
[33] † Deltatheridium pretrituberculare Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	12	99	92	0	13	0	0	2
[34] † Deltatheroides cretacicus Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	69	45	43	0	10	0	0	2
[35] Didelphis virginiana Taxon name last Modified on 03/31/15	45	80	77	0	1	0	0	2
[36] † Didelphodon coyi Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	54	64	56	0	6	0	0	2
[37] † Didelphodon padanicus Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	99	25	24	0	0	0	0	2
[38] † Didelphodon vorax Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	11	108	98	0	6	0	0	2
[39] † Ectocentrocristus foxi Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	74	50	47	0	0	0	0	2
[40] † Eoalphadon clemensi Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	58	67	60	0	0	0	0	2
[41] † Eoalphadon lillegraveni Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	62	64	59	0	0	0	0	2
[42] † Eoalphadon woodburnei Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	63	61	60	0	0	0	0	2
[43] † Eodelphis browni Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	40	78	74	0	6	0	0	2
[44] † Eodelphis cutleri Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	55	63	57	0	6	0	0	2
[45] † Esteslestes ensis Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	100	24	21	0	0	0	0	2
[46] † Glasbius intricatus Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	56	69	61	0	0	0	0	2
[47] † Glasbius twitchelli Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	47	77	74	0	0	0	0	2
[48] † Hatcheritherium alpha Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	86	38	37	0	0	0	0	2
[49] † Golerdelphys stocki Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	62	62	62	0	0	0	0	2
[50] † Herpetotherium comstocki Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	59	65	64	0	0	0	0	2
[51] † Herpetotherium edwardi Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	58	66	62	0	0	0	0	2
[52] † Herpetotherium fugax Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	48	76	70	0	0	0	0	2
[53] † Herpetotherium knighti Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	56	69	66	0	0	0	0	2
[54] † Herpetotherium marsupium Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	54	71	64	0	0	0	0	2
[55] † Herpetotherium valens Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	118	8	6	0	0	0	0	2
[56] † Holoclemensia texana Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	58	65	63	0	1	0	0	2
[57] † Iqualadelphis lactea Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	79	39	35	0	6	0	0	2
[58] † Iugomortiferum thoringtoni Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	60	63	60	0	1	0	0	2
[59] † Kokopellia juddi Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	48	66	58	0	10	0	0	2
[60] † Leptalestes cooki Taxon name last Modified on 05/22/15	60	55	51	0	9	0	0	2
[61] † Leptalestes krejcii Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	55	60	55	0	9	0	0	2
[62] † Leptalestes prokrejcii Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	61	54	50	0	9	0	0	2
[63] † Leptalestes toevsi Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	70	47	41	0	7	0	0	2
[64] † Maastrichtidelphys meurismeti Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	85	39	38	0	0	0	0	2
[65] † Mimoperadectes houdei Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	74	51	47	0	0	0	0	2
[66] † Mimoperadectes labrus Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	55	70	63	0	0	0	0	2
[67] † Nanocuris improvida Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	59	56	55	0	9	0	0	2
[68] † Nortedelphys intermedius Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	63	61	57	0	0	0	0	2
[69] † Nortedelphys jasoni Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	57	67	61	0	0	0	0	2
[70] † Nortedelphys magnus Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	56	68	63	0	0	0	0	2
[71] † Nortedelphys minimus Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	82	42	39	0	0	0	0	2
[72] † Oklatheridium szalayi Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	72	41	40	0	11	0	0	2
[73] † Pappotherium pattersoni Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	61	54	53	0	9	0	0	2
[74] † Pariadens kirklandi Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	62	62	58	0	0	0	0	2
[75] † Pariadens mckennai Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	105	19	17	0	0	0	0	2
[76] † Pediomys elegans Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	24	99	94	0	1	0	0	2
[77] † Peradectes californicus Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	56	61	57	0	7	0	0	2
[78] † Peradectes chesteri Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	59	55	54	0	10	0	0	2
[79] † Peradectes elegans Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	53	72	64	0	0	0	0	2
[80] † Peradectes gulottai Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	76	42	41	0	6	0	0	2
[81] † Peradectes coproxeches Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	57	68	61	0	0	0	0	2
[82] † Peradectes minor Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	55	69	65	0	0	0	0	2
[83] † Peradectes pauli Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	100	24	22	0	0	0	0	2
[84] † Peradectes protinnominatus Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	58	66	64	0	0	0	0	2
[85] † Protalphadon foxi Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	80	47	39	0	0	0	0	2
[86] † Protalphadon lulli Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	58	67	61	0	0	0	0	2
[87] † Protolambda clemensi Taxon name last Modified on 05/22/15	59	55	51	0	10	0	0	2
[88] † Protolambda florencae Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	59	55	51	0	10	0	0	2
[89] † Protolambda hatcheri Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	53	62	56	0	10	0	0	2
[90] † Pucadelphys andinus Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	8	116	107	0	0	0	0	2
[91] † Roberthoffstetteria nationalgeographica Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	55	69	66	0	0	0	0	2
[92] † Sinbadelphys schmidti Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	58	56	51	0	10	0	0	2
[93] † Sulestes karakshi Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	25	89	88	0	11	0	0	2
[94] † Swaindelphys cifellii Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	57	67	63	0	0	0	0	2
[95] † Swaindelphys encinensis Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	57	67	64	0	0	0	0	2
[96] † Swaindelphys johansoni Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	52	72	71	0	0	0	0	2
[97] † Szalinia gracilis Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	50	75	70	0	0	0	0	2
[98] † Thylacodon pusillus holotype Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	104	20	19	0	0	0	0	2
[99] † Thylacodon pusillus Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	56	68	64	0	0	0	0	2
[100] † Thylacodon montanensis Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	53	71	68	0	0	0	0	2
[101] † Turgidodon lillegraveni Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	81	43	42	0	0	0	0	2
[102] † Turgidodon madseni Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	60	64	60	0	0	0	0	2
[103] † Turgidodon petiminis Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	60	64	60	0	0	0	0	2
[104] † Turgidodon praesagus Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	59	66	60	0	0	0	0	2
[105] † Turgidodon rhaister Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	36	88	83	0	0	0	0	2
[106] † Turgidodon russelli Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	50	76	71	0	0	0	0	2
[107] † Varalphadon crebreforme Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	79	39	36	0	6	0	0	2
[108] † Varalphadon creber Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	79	45	40	0	1	0	0	2
[109] † Varalphadon wahweapensis Taxon name last Modified on 05/21/15	60	64	57	0	1	0	0	2

Project downloads

type	number of downloads	Individual items downloaded (where applicable)
Total downloads from project	359
Matrix downloads	15	K-T marsupials (15 downloads);
Project downloads	344