Information AboutMultituberculata |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT MULTITUBERCULATA | |
| multituberculates | |
| jurassic mammals | |
| cretaceous mammals | |
| mesozoic mammals | |
| oligocene extinctions | |
| mammals | |
The Multituberculata are the only major branch of Mammals to have become completely extinct, with no living descendants. Rodent-like, they first appeared in the Middle Jurassic , and became extinct in the early Oligocene . The structure of the Pelvis in the Multituberculata suggests that they gave birth to tiny, helpless young, similar to modern Marsupial s. They are named for their teeth, which had many cusps (tubercles) arranged in rows, hence multituberculates. About 80 Genera of multituberculata are known, including '' Lambdopsalis '', '' Ptilodus '' and '' Meniscoessus ''. GROUPS WITHIN MULTITUBERCULATA In their 2001 study, Kielan-Jaworowska and Hurum found that most multituberculates could be referred to two suborders: " Plagiaulacida " and Cimolodonta . The exception is the genus '' Arginbaatar '', which shares characteristics with both groups. "Plagiaulacida" is , the Paulchoffatiid Line , and the Plagiaulacid Line . Cimolodonta is apparently a natural ( Monophyletic ) suborder. This includes the more derived Multituberculata, which have been identified from the Lower Cretaceous to the Eocene . Recognized are the superfamilies Djadochtatherioidea , Taeniolabidoidea , Ptilodontoidea and the Paracimexomys Group . Additionally, there are the families Cimolomyidae , Boffiidae , Eucosmodontidae , Kogaionidae , Microcosmodontidae and the two genera '' Uzbekbaatar '' and '' Viridomys ''. More precise placement of these types awaits further discoveries and analysis. GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION With the possible exception of some poorly preserved South American material, "multis" are only known from the northern hemisphere. A southern grouping, Gondwanatheria , has in the past been referred to the order, though this placement currently has little support. REFERENCES
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