Eocene Apternodus and the extant shrew Scutisorex
Apternodus is missing
the rostrum tip and cheek bones. Turns out the cheekbones are also naturally missing in related taxa, like the shrew, Scutisorex. With a little unscored restoration at the rostral tip, these two now nest together in the large reptile tree (LRT, 2328 taxa).
Figure 1. Apternodus and Scutisorex to scale.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/apternodus.skull3views588-1.jpg?w=300″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/apternodus.skull3views588-1.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-90694″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/apternodus.skull3views588-1.jpg” alt=”Figure 1. Apternodus and Scutisorex to scale.” width=”584″ height=”422″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/apternodus.skull3views588-1.jpg?w=584&h=422 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/apternodus.skull3views588-1.jpg?w=150&h=108 150w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/apternodus.skull3views588-1.jpg?w=300&h=217 300w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/apternodus.skull3views588-1.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 1. Apternodus and Scutisorex to scale.
Apternodus also has
bulbous [crushing] premolars not found in Scutisorex, not found in other similar tested taxa.
Apternodus baladontus
(Matthew1903, Asher et al 2002; Eocene to Oligocene, 35mya) was traditionally considered a member of the Soricomorpha, an invalid clade in the LRT of terrestrial and burrowing placental shrew-like forms. Here Apternodus nests with Scutisorex, the shrew. Some premolars are bulbous.
A zalambdodont upper molar is characterized by a V-shaped crest (an ectoloph). The largest cusp is at the apex of the V.
Editors note:
I upgraded Firefox several days ago and was unable to access this panel to produce new blogposts. Suddenly the problem disappeared (after a few reports to WordPress.com that I thought were answered by AI robots).
Lesson for today: Sometimes it pays to accidentally click on old links.
References
Asher RJ et al (4 co-authors) 2002. Morphology and relationships of Apternodus and other extinct, zalambdodont, placental mammals. Bulletin of the AMNH 273:1–117.
Matthew WD 1903. The fauna of the Titanotherium Beds at Pipestone Springs, Montana. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 19(6):197–226.
wiki/Scutisorex
wiki/Apternodus – not yet posted
Source: https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/2024/12/28/eocene-apternodus-and-the-extant-shrew-scutisorex/
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