Yanoconodon

Yan-o-con-o-don.
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Maeve Foster

Paleoclimatologist

Maeve Foster explores the Earth's climatic past to understand the forces that shaped life on our planet. Her research into ancient climate events provides valuable context for current environmental challenges.

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Name

Yanoconodon ‭(‬Yan cuspate tooth‭)‬.

Phonetic

Yan-o-con-o-don.

Named By

Z.-X.‭ ‬Luo,‭ ‬P.‭ ‬Chen,‭ ‬G.‭ ‬Li‭ & ‬M.‭ ‬Chen‭ ‬-‭ ‬2007.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Mamamlia,‭ ‬Eutriconodonta,‭ ‬Jeholodentidae.

Diet

Carnivore/Insectivore.

Species

Y.‭ ‬allini‭

Size

About‭ ‬13‭ ‬centimetres long.

Known locations

China,‭ ‬Hebei Province‭ ‬-‭ ‬Huajiying Formation.

Time Period

Aptian of the Cretaceous.

Fossil representation

Almost complete and articulated skeleton.

In Depth

       Though commonly stated to be mammal,‭ ‬the evolutionary placement of Yanoconodon‭ ‬amongst mammals is uncertain due to the fact that Yanoconodon shows a development of an inner ear.‭ ‬This is an‭ ‬advanced feature upon what otherwise might be interpreted as a more primitive mammaliaform body.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬A new eutriconodont mammal and evolutionary development in early mammals.‭ ‬Nature‭ ‬446:288-293.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Z.-X.‭ ‬Luo,‭ ‬P.‭ ‬Chen,‭ ‬G.‭ ‬Li‭ & ‬M.‭ ‬Chen‭ ‬-‭ ‬2007.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT