#dryolestoid

[harpagornis]

Illyriolestes piscimimus, a new critter for Multituberculate Earth: https://multituberculateearth.wordpress.com/2022/04/03/mammals-at-sea/

[harpagornis]

New picture for Illyriolestes piscimimus: https://multituberculateearth.wordpress.com/2022/10/05/iberia-the-tip-of-the-world/ https://multituberculateearth.wordpress.com/2022/04/03/mammals-at-sea/ https://multituberculateearth.wordpress.com/2022/04/02/dryolestoidea-the-other-guys/

[alphynix]

Cronopio dentiacutus was a small dryolestoid mammal from the Late Cretaceous of Argentina, about 98 million years ago. Known only from partial skull remains, it's estimated to have been similar in size to a modern mouse or shrew at about 10-15cm long (4-6").

Dryolestoids originated in the mid-Jurassic, and had a primitive tooth structure that suggests they may have been the last common ancestors of marsupials and placental mammals. Cronopio itself is notable for its long "saber"-like canine teeth, which gave it a superficial resemblance to a certain animated character. Since the fictional character pre-dated the discovery of Cronopio by about nine years, this is an example of something called the "Dim Effect" -- a phenomenon of art predicting nature.

[tyrannoraptora-blog]

Mammal palaeontology isn't really my thing, but this a remarkable discovery!