Aspanlestes undetermined

Archibald, J. David & Averianov, Alexander, 2012, Phylogenetic analysis, taxonomic revision, and dental ontogeny of the Cretaceous Zhelestidae (Mammalia: Eutheria), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 164 (2), pp. 361-426 : 378

ASPANLESTES SP.

(See Appendix 4 for synonymies, referred illustrations, and referred specimens.)

Locality and horizon: CDZH-117, Dzharakuduk, Kyzylkum Desert, Uzbekistan. Aitym Formation, Upper Cretaceous (upper Turonian – Coniacian?).

Description: P4 (Averianov & Archibald, 2003: fig. 10a, b), if correctly attributed to Aspanlestes sp. , differs from Aspanlestes aptap in lacking a protocone bulge (only a distolingual cingulum is present), by having a larger anterior accessory cusp, and by having a more prominent distolabial cingulum.

The fragmented and heavily worn P5 is somewhat smaller than that in A. aptap , but apparently does not differ in the structure from what is preserved.

For description of DP5 see Archibald & Averianov (2001: 542; misidentified there as M1 of Paranyctoides ). In morphology it is very close, if not identical, to DP5 of A. aptap (CCMGE 4/12455).

The upper molars (for M2 see Averianov & Archibald, 2003: fig. 10c) are the same as that in A. aptap .

The fragment of a worn lower molar (Averianov & Archibald, 2003: fig. 10d, e), originally identified as m1 or m2, is most certainly identified here as m2. It shows no differences from m2s of A. aptap , except its somewhat smaller size.

Measurements: See Averianov & Archibald (2003: 179, 181) and Appendix 2.

Comments: The sample of Aspanlestes sp. from the Aitym local fauna is very close to A. aptap from the Bissekty local fauna. It may belong to the same species but more material is needed to verify this.