In Depth
Akidolestes displays a number of features which are seen in monotreme mammals, including a similar pubis and the presence of cervical ribs. However, other observations of the holotype specimen mean that there is no doubt that Akidolestes was a spalacotheriid mammal. The monotreme-like features are probably convergent features or traits from an ancestral form shared with monotremes.
The genus name Akidolestes means ‘pointed thief’ and this is a reference to the long snout that Akidolestes is known to have had. The type species name is in honour of Richard Cifelli and in recognition to his contributions in the field of mammal palaeontology.
Further Reading
- A Cretaceous symmetrodont therian with some monotreme-like postcranial features, G. Li & Z.-X. Luo - 2006. – Postcranial Skeleton of the Cretaceous Mammal Akidolestes cifellii and Its Locomotor Adaptations. – Journal of Mammalian Evolution. 20 (3): 159–189. – Meng Chen & Zhe-Xi Luo – 2012.
