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Didelphodus

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Didelphodus
Temporal range: Eocene
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Cimolesta
Family: Cimolestidae
Genus: Didelphodus
Cope, 1882

Didelphodus is an extinct genus of eutherian mammal that inhabited North America and Europe during the Eocene epoch. It was insectivorous.[1]

Taxonomy

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The genus Didelphodus was erected by E. D. Cope in 1882, with the type species Deltatherium absarokae transferred to his new genus.[1] The genus has been placed in the family Leptictidae[2] or in the family Cimolestidae.[1]

Species placed in the genus include:[2][1]

  • Didelphodus absarokae (Cope, 1881) (type species)
  • Didelphodus caloris Gingerich, Folie & Smith, 2023
  • Didelphodus rheos Storer, 1995
  • Didelphodus serus Storer, 1984

Palaeoecology

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Based on its dental morphology and enamel δ18O values, Didelphodus had an insectivorous diet.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Gingerich, Philip D.; Folie, Annelise & Smith, Thierry (2023). "Didelphodus caloris, New Species (Mammalia, Cimolesta), from the Wasatchian WA–0 Fauna of the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, Clarks Fork Basin, Wyoming" (PDF). Contributions from the Museum of Paleontology, University of Michigan. 35 (2): 34–45. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  2. ^ a b "†Didelphodus Cope 1882 (eutherian)". Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  3. ^ Secord, Ross; Wing, Scott L.; Chew, Amy (Spring 2008). "Stable isotopes in early Eocene mammals as indicators of forest canopy structure and resource partitioning". Paleobiology. 34 (2): 282–300. doi:10.1666/0094-8373(2008)034[0282:SIIEEM]2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0094-8373. Retrieved 12 November 2024 – via Cambridge Core.