Kalaallitkigun

Ka-larl-li-ke-gun.
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John Stewart

Paleoecologist

John Stewart is a distinguished paleoecologist whose work has significantly advanced our understanding of prehistoric ecosystems. With over two decades dedicated to unearthing fossils across Asia and Africa

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Name

Kalaallitkigun.

Phonetic

Ka-larl-li-ke-gun.

Named By

T.‭ ‬Sulej,‭ ‬G.‭ ‬Krzesiński,‭ ‬M.‭ ‬Tałanda,‭ ‬A.‭ ‬S.‭ ‬Wolniewicz,‭ ‬B.‭ ‬Błażejowski,‭ ‬N.‭ ‬Bonde,‭ ‬P.‭ ‬Gutowski,‭ ‬M.‭ ‬Sienkiewicz‭ & ‬G.‭ ‬Niedźwiedzki‭ ‬-‭ ‬2020.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Therapsida,‭ ‬Cynodontia,‭ ‬Haramiyida.

Diet

Uncertain.

Species

K.‭ ‬jenkinsi

Size

Unavailable due to lack of remains.

Known locations

Greenland‭ ‬-‭ ‬Fleming Fjord Formation.

Time Period

Late Triassic.

Fossil representation

‭ ‬Partial dentary including premolar and molar teeth.

In Depth

       Kalaallitkigun is a genus of cynodont that lived in Greenland during the Triassic.‭ ‬At the time of its description Kalaallitkigun is known only from a partial lower jaw bone and a premolar and molar‭ ‬tooth.‭ ‬The teeth structure of the molar suggests that Kalaallitkigun was intermediate in its development lying somewhere between more primitive and more advanced cynodonts.‭ ‬The molar of Kalaallitkigun also suggests a feeding strategy more akin to grinding,‭ ‬though it is unknown for certain what Kalaallitkigun ate.‭ ‬The development may suggests a greater degree of herbivory,‭ ‬or at least been omnivorous,‭ ‬but again,‭ ‬certainty is hard to establish.

Further reading

-‭ ‬The earliest-known mammaliaform fossil from Greenland sheds light on origin of mammals.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.‭ ‬117‭ (‬43‭)‬:‭ ‬26861‭–‬26867.‭ ‬-‭ ‬T.‭ ‬Sulej,‭ ‬G.‭ ‬Krzesiński,‭ ‬M.‭ ‬Tałanda,‭ ‬A.‭ ‬S.‭ ‬Wolniewicz,‭ ‬B.‭ ‬Błażejowski,‭ ‬N.‭ ‬Bonde,‭ ‬P.‭ ‬Gutowski,‭ ‬M.‭ ‬Sienkiewicz‭ & ‬G.‭ ‬Niedźwiedzki‭ ‬-‭ ‬2020.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT