Labes, SIGE IN POL

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 : 404

LABES SIGÉ IN POL ET AL., 1992

Labes: Pol et al., 1992: 296 .

Type species: Labes quintanillensis Sigé in Pol et al., 1992.

Included species: Type species and Labes garimondi Sigé in Pol et al., 1992.

Revised diagnosis: Differs from Sheikhdzheilia and Lainodon by protoconid subequal to paraconid or metaconid in height. Differs from Avitotherium , Lainodon , and Gallolestes by paraconid not on lingual margin. Differs from Parazhelestes , Avitotherium , and Gallolestes by paracristid- protocristid angle between 36 and 49°. Differs from Sheikhdzheilia , Avitotherium , and Lainodon by protocristid transverse. Differs from all zhelestids except Sheikhdzheilia and Lainodon by absence of labial postcingulid. Differs from all zhelestids by cristid obliqua labial to protocristid notch; hypoconulid on m1-2 equidistant from hypoconid and entoconid.

Distribution: France and Spain; Late Cretaceous (Campanian and Maastrichtian).

Comments: The two species of Labes are known from noncomparable material: m3 for L. quintanillensis and m1-2 for L. garimondi . At least some of the differences between the two species listed by Sigé in Pol et al. (1992: 299) may pertain to the positional variation. The only reliable difference between the two species is the size; the Maastrichtian species is distinctly smaller.

Referral of Labes to the Zhelestidae is tentative until the discovery of more complete specimens. The most striking difference of this taxon compared to zhelestids is the hypoconulid on m1-2, which is equidistant from the hypoconid and entoconid.

Tabuce, Vianey-Liaud & Garcia (2004) described a poorly preserved dentary fragment with some remnants of dentition as ‘ Valentinella vitrollense ’. This taxon is considered here as a nomen dubium because it lacks diagnostic features. It was said to be more derived than Labes and Lainodon in having fully compressed trigonids, but the trigonids are actually not preserved on the holotype specimen. The lower molars of this specimen seem to be somewhat larger than in L. garimondi .