Adalatherium

Adalatherium
Temporal range: Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) 70–66 Ma
Restoration of the skull in lateral view
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Clade: †Gondwanatheria
Family: †Adalatheriidae
Krause et al, 2020
Genus: †Adalatherium
Krause et al, 2020
Species:
†A. hui
Binomial name
†Adalatherium hui
Krause et al, 2020

Adalatherium (Adàla, 'crazy' in Malagasy and therium, 'beast' in Greek) is an extinct gondwanatherian that lived in Madagascar during the Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous. The discovery of the first nearly-complete skeleton from the Maevarano Formation was announced in April 2020.[1]

Description

Although the only known fossil is believed to be from a subadult individual, it had a large skull reaching 8.4 centimetres (3.3 in) long. Its body length was about 52 centimetres (20 in)[2] and the body mass is estimated between 1.775–5.218 kilograms (3.91–11.50 lb), making it one the largest known Mesozoic mammals.[1] It is depicted in reconstructions as being built somewhat like a badger. Its skeleton is the most complete of any Gondwanan Mesozoic mammal. Additionally, the front of the skull contains more foramina than any known mammal except Vincelestes.[3]

The teeth of Adalatherium had simple radial enamel with a schmelzmuster consisting of only one layer. The interprismatic matrix was anastomosing around the enamel prisms, which were small and not decussating.[4]

Palaeoecology

Potential predators of Adalatherium included Majungasaurus, Masiakasaurus, Miadanasuchus, Mahajangasuchus, and Madtsoia madagascariensis.[5] In turn, it may have eaten roots or other plant material.

References

  1. ^ a b Krause, David W.; Hoffmann, Simone; Hu, Yaoming; Wible, John R.; Rougier, Guillermo W.; Kirk, E. Christopher; Groenke, Joseph R.; Rogers, Raymond R.; Rossie, James B.; Schultz, Julia A.; Evans, Alistair R. (2020-04-29). "Skeleton of a Cretaceous mammal from Madagascar reflects long-term insularity". Nature. 581 (7809): 421–427. doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2234-8. ISSN 1476-4687. PMID 32461642. S2CID 216650606.
  2. ^ "Madagascar's prehistoric 'crazy beast' sheds light on mammalian evolution". India Today. May 2020. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
  3. ^ Krause, David W.; Hoffmann, Simone; Rossie, James B.; Hu, Yaoming; Wible, John R.; Rougier, Guillermo W.; Kirk, E. Christopher; Groenke, Joseph R. (2020-12-14). "Craniofacial morphology of Adalatherium hui (Mammalia, Gondwanatheria) from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 40 (sup1): 19–66. doi:10.1080/02724634.2020.1808665. ISSN 0272-4634. S2CID 230968119.
  4. ^ Krause, David W.; Hu, Yaoming; Hoffmann, Simone; Groenke, Joseph R.; Schultz, Julia A.; Evans, Alistair R.; von Koenigswald, Wighart; Rougier, Guillermo W. (14 December 2020). "Dental morphology of Adalatherium hui (Mammalia, Gondwanatheria) from the LATE Cretaceous of Madagascar". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 40 (sup1): 97–132. doi:10.1080/02724634.2020.1811292. ISSN 0272-4634. Retrieved 14 May 2026 – via Taylor and Francis Online.
  5. ^ "'Crazy Beast': newly-identified prehistoric mammal has features never seen before". cbsnews.com. April 29, 2020. Retrieved 2020-04-29.


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