HOROLODECTIDAE, Scott, 2019

Scott, Craig S., 2019, Horolodectidae: a new family of unusual eutherians (Mammalia: Theria) from the Palaeocene of Alberta, Canada, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 185, pp. 431-458 : 434

HOROLODECTIDAE FAM. NOV.

Z o o b a n k L S I D. — u r n: l s i d: z o o b a n k. org:act: E0294887-BA5E-4A5D-BC17-A8B81D9390A0

Type genus: Horolodectes Scott, Fox & Webb, 2006 .

Other genera: Ferrequitherium gen. nov.

Etymology: In reference to Horolodectes .

Occurrence: Earliest Tiffanian (Ti1) to Middle Tiffanian (Ti3) (Late Palaeocene) of Alberta, Canada.

Diagnosis: Differs from other Eutheria in having unique combination of lower molars with talonids longer and wider than trigonids, protoconid arm of protocristid shorter than metaconid arm, and m3 with enlarged and closely approximated entoconid, entoconulid and hypoconulid positioned along the lingual margin of crown. Differs further in lower molars combining low trigonid that becomes increasingly anteroposteriorly compressed from m1 to m3, tall and trenchant paraconid lingual in position and closely positioned to metaconid, cristid obliqua contacting postvallid wall labial to protocristid notch and m1–2 hypoconulid anteroposteriorly compressed, with nearly flat basin-facing surface.