Dissopsalis

Dis-sop-sal-is.
Published on

Claire Morris

Marine Paleontologist

Claire Morris has dedicated her career to exploring the depths of prehistoric oceans. Her fascination with ancient marine life has led her to discover significant fossils that illuminate the evolution of early sea creatures.

Cite Feedback Print

Name

Dissopsalis

Phonetic

Dis-sop-sal-is.

Named By

Pilgrim‭ ‬-‭ ‬1910.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Mammalia,‭ ‬Creodonta,‭ ‬Hyaenodontidae.

Diet

Carnivore.

Species

D.‭ ‬carnifex‭

Size

Unknown.

Known locations

China,‭ ‬India,‭ ‬Kenya and Pakistan.

Time Period

Serravallian to the Tortonian of the Miocene.

Fossil representation

Several specimens but usually of just the skull,‭ ‬teeth and partial mandibles.‭ ‬Elements of post cranial remains have also been attributed to the genus.

In Depth

       Although still only known from a few scattered and incomplete fossils,‭ ‬Dissopsalis stands out from other creodonts by being one of the last to live.‭ ‬The earliest species was D.‭ ‬pyroclasticus from Kenya,‭ ‬but it is the type species of D.‭ ‬carnifex from Asia that confirms is position as a late surviving creodont.‭ ‬Dissopsalis lived at a time when other predators such as the amphicyonids‭ (‬a.k.a.‭ ‬bear dogs‭) ‬when had replaced the creodonts as the top predators of the time.‭ ‬However the gradual emergence of true dogs that would go on to diverge into more specialised forms such as wolves would increase competition to the point where Dissopsalis as well as the bear dogs could no longer survive.

Further Reading

– Dissopsalis, a middle and late Miocene proviverrine creodont (Mammalia) from Pakistan and Kenya. – Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 48(1): 25–45. – J. C. Barry – 1988.

Never Miss a New Species or Fossil Discovery!

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT