Toothy Feredocodon enters the LRT just outside the Mammalia
Feredocodon chowi
(Mao et al. 2024a; IMMNH-PV01035; Early Jurassic) was originally considered a tiny shuotheriid (Fig 4) symmetrodont pre-mammal. Five molars and five premolars were present in adults. That’s a lot of teeth! The nasals were wider posteriorly. At least two specimens are known (Fig 1).
The multi-cusped canines were no larger than the other teeth (Fig 3).
Do those make Feredocodon a tiny herbivore? Or a tiny worm-puller?
Figure 1. TWo specimens of Feredocodon in situ from Mao et al 2024.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/feredocodon_chowi_instu588.jpg?w=110″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/feredocodon_chowi_instu588.jpg?w=375″ class=”size-full wp-image-85253″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/feredocodon_chowi_instu588.jpg?w=584&h=1593″ alt=”Figure 1. TWo specimens of Feredocodon in situ from Mao et al 2024.” width=”584″ height=”1593″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/feredocodon_chowi_instu588.jpg?w=584&h=1593 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/feredocodon_chowi_instu588.jpg?w=55&h=150 55w, https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/feredocodon_chowi_instu588.jpg?w=110&h=300 110w, https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/feredocodon_chowi_instu588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 1. TWo specimens of Feredocodon in situ from Mao et al 2024.
The basal metatherian/marsupial
Ukhaatherium has similar proportions, but fewer teeth. Anebodon has more molars, but fewer premolars.
Figure 2. Feredocodon µCT scan from Mao et al 2024. DGS colors added here.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/feredocodon_ctscan588.jpg?w=209″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/feredocodon_ctscan588.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-85254″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/feredocodon_ctscan588.jpg?w=584&h=840″ alt=”Figure 2. Feredocodon µCT scan from Mao et al 2024. DGS colors added here.” width=”584″ height=”840″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/feredocodon_ctscan588.jpg?w=584&h=840 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/feredocodon_ctscan588.jpg?w=104&h=150 104w, https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/feredocodon_ctscan588.jpg?w=209&h=300 209w, https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/feredocodon_ctscan588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 2. Feredocodon µCT scan from Mao et al 2024. DGS colors added here.
Very few cynodont therapsids have a tricuspid canine.
Feredocodon is an exception to that rule. Note the anteriorly narrow mandibles that touch each other along their lengths (Fig 2), convergent with later odontocetes (toothed whales).
Figure 3. Feredocodon dentition from Mao et al 2024. DGS colors added here.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/feredocodon_dentition588.jpg?w=300″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/feredocodon_dentition588.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-85256″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/feredocodon_dentition588.jpg?w=584&h=296″ alt=”Figure 3. Feredocodon dentition from Mao et al 2024. DGS colors added here.” width=”584″ height=”296″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/feredocodon_dentition588.jpg?w=584&h=296 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/feredocodon_dentition588.jpg?w=150&h=76 150w, https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/feredocodon_dentition588.jpg?w=300&h=152 300w, https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/feredocodon_dentition588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 3. Feredocodon dentition from Mao et al 2024. DGS colors added here. The upper molars have three roots. Otherwise they blend gradually with the premolars. Note the canines (orange) have three cusps. This was not a tiny killer, but perhaps a tiny herbivore.
Original comparisons to Shuotherium
seem to be due to similar molar shapes, rather than the molar count or the mandible morphology. In the LRT Shuotherium nests tentatively (too few traits to score) within the Monotremata, not close to Feredocodon.
Figure 2. Medial view of Shuotherium. The last premolar is similar to the first molar, the coronoid process is tiny and the retroarticular process is absent, all distinct from Asfaltomylos (Fig. 1).
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/shuotherium_medial588.jpg?w=300″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/shuotherium_medial588.jpg?w=581″ class=”size-full wp-image-41579″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/shuotherium_medial588.jpg?w=584″ alt=”Figure 2. Medial view of Shuotherium. The last premolar is similar to the first molar, the coronoid process is tiny and the retroarticular process is absent, all distinct from Asfaltomylos (Fig. 1).” srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/shuotherium_medial588.jpg 581w, https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/shuotherium_medial588.jpg?w=150&h=49 150w, https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/shuotherium_medial588.jpg?w=300&h=97 300w” sizes=”(max-width: 581px) 100vw, 581px” />
Figure 4. Medial view of Shuotherium. The last premolar is similar to the first molar, the coronoid process is tiny and the retroarticular process is absent, all distinct from Feredocodon (Fig 2). Not sure how many roots are found in p4 (or is that m1?). The change in morphology indicates the latter is more likely.
Another LRT relative,
Origolestes (Fig 5, Mao et al 2019), was similar in size and morphology, but with a shorter rostrum and thus fewer autapomorphies (= unique traits).
Figure 1. Origolestes in situ with colors added using DGS methods.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/origolestes_insitu588.jpg?w=119″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/origolestes_insitu588.jpg?w=405″ class=”size-full wp-image-41022″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/origolestes_insitu588.jpg?w=584&h=1477″ alt=”Figure 1. Origolestes in situ with colors added using DGS methods.” width=”584″ height=”1477″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/origolestes_insitu588.jpg?w=584&h=1477 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/origolestes_insitu588.jpg?w=59&h=150 59w, https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/origolestes_insitu588.jpg?w=119&h=300 119w, https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/origolestes_insitu588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 5. Origolestes in situ with colors added using DGS methods.
Since extant monotremes lack an ear pinna,
these two pre-monotreme and basal monotreme taxa, Feredocodon and Dianoconodon, likewise probably lacked an ear pinna, contra the original publicity illustrations (Fig 6). Living monotremes have an audio slit: vertical in the echidna, horizontal in the platypus.
Figure 6. Dianoconodon and Feredocodon illustrations from the publicity stream had ear pinnae. An alternate illustration without ear pinnae is presented in frame 2.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/dianoconodon-feredocodon-pinna588.gif?w=270″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/dianoconodon-feredocodon-pinna588.gif?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-85273″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/dianoconodon-feredocodon-pinna588.gif?w=584&h=649″ alt=”Figure 6. Dianoconodon and Feredocodon illustrations from the publicity stream had ear pinnae. An alternate illustration without ear pinnae is presented in frame 2.” width=”584″ height=”649″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/dianoconodon-feredocodon-pinna588.gif?w=584&h=649 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/dianoconodon-feredocodon-pinna588.gif?w=135&h=150 135w, https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/dianoconodon-feredocodon-pinna588.gif?w=270&h=300 270w, https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/dianoconodon-feredocodon-pinna588.gif 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 6. Dianoconodon and Feredocodon illustrations from the publicity stream had ear pinnae. An alternate illustration without ear pinnae is presented in frame 2.
The most primitive extant marsupials in the LRT
are Caenolestes and Rhyncholestes (Fig 7). Both have an ear pinna and a long, narrow rostrum. Both have a small canine and 3 large molars. A vestigial fourth molar is present. The jaw bones and ear bones are separated and typically mammalian in appearance in these two South American living fossils. The cranium is large and wide, typical for mammals.
Figure 7. Rhyncholestes and Caenolestes are the most primitive living mammals with ear pinnae tested in the LRT.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/caenolestes_rhyncholestes-invivo588.jpg?w=253″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/caenolestes_rhyncholestes-invivo588.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-85278″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/caenolestes_rhyncholestes-invivo588.jpg?w=584&h=693″ alt=”Figure 7. Rhyncholestes and Caenolestes are the most primitive living mammals with ear pinnae tested in the LRT. ” width=”584″ height=”693″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/caenolestes_rhyncholestes-invivo588.jpg?w=584&h=693 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/caenolestes_rhyncholestes-invivo588.jpg?w=126&h=150 126w, https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/caenolestes_rhyncholestes-invivo588.jpg?w=253&h=300 253w, https://pterosaurheresies.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/caenolestes_rhyncholestes-invivo588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 7. Rhyncholestes and Caenolestes are the most primitive living mammals with ear pinnae tested in the LRT.
As mentioned earlier,
I have not read the Mao et al paper, which remains behind a paywall. I am working from data available at ResearchGate.net, which includes many photos and graphics, but does not include a cladogram.
References
Mao F et al (6 co-authors) 2024a. Jurasssic shuotheriids show earliest dental diversification of mammaliaforms. Nature 782(260) online.
wiki/Feredocodon – not yet posted
Publicity
Sci.new.com
earth.com
amnh.org
popsci.com
Source: https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/2024/04/11/toothy-feredocodon-enters-the-lrt-just-outside-the-mammalia/
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