In Depth
A little known creodont genus, Apterodon fossil locations so far suggest that the genus roamed across Europe and North Africa from the late Eocene to early Oligocene periods. Although a creodont and a predator, Apterodon lacks the carnassial (blade-like meat shearing) teeth that are seen in other creodonts. This may indicate a different eating and possibly hunting specialisation for this genus, something that may have reduced inter-species competition and allowed it to live in the same ecosystems as other creodonts.
One former species of Apterodon, A. flonheimensis, is now considered to be a synonym to the type species A. gaudryi.
Further Reading
– Apterodon intermedus, sp. nov., a new European Creodont Mammal from MP22 of Espenhain (Germany), Bridgette lange-Badre & Madelaine Bohme - 2005.
