Sparassodonta

Sparassodonta Fossil range: Paleocene-Pleistocene
Thylacosmilus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Infraclass:	Metatheria
Order:	†Sparassodonta Ameghino, 1894
Families
†Mayulestidae †Hathliacynidae †Borhyaenidae †Proborhyaenidae †Prothylacinidae †Thylacosmilidae

Sparassodonta is an extinct order of carnivorous metatherians mammals native to South America. They were once considered to be true marsupials, but are now thought to be a sister taxon to them.^[1] A number of these mammalian predators closely resemble placental predators that evolved separately on other continents, and are cited frequently as examples of convergent evolution. They were first described by Florentino Ameghino, from fossils found in the Santa Cruz beds of Patagonia.

Features

Although members of the order Sparassodonta showed many similarities with placental carnivores, they were not closely related and are a very good example of convergent evolution. For example, Sparassodont's molars were very similar to the sharp teeth of placental carnivores. The canines were also lengthened, and in some cases resemble saber-toothed cats. Their body size varied, ranging from 80 cm (2 ft 8 in) long to the size of todays modern big cats .

Classification

• †Order Sparassodonta^[2]
  • • †Genus Pseudonotictis
    • †Genus Sallacyon
  • †Family Mayulestidae
    • †Genus Mayulestes
      • †Mayulestes ferox
    • †Genus Allqokirus
      • †Allqokirus australis
  • †Family Hathliacynidae
    • †Genus Patene
      • †Patene simpsoni
      • †Patene coluapiensis
    • †Genus Palaeocladosictis
      • †Palaeocladosictis mosei
    • †Genus Procladosictis
    • †Genus Pseudocladosictis
    • †Genus Notogale
    • †Genus Cladosictis
      • †Cladosictis lustratus
    • †Genus Sipalocyon
    • †Genus Thylacodictis
    • †Genus Agustylus
    • †Genus Ictioborus
    • †Genus Amphithereutes
    • †Genus Parathereutes
    • †Genus Chasicostylus
    • †Genus Notictis
      • †Notictis ortizi
    • †Genus Notocynus
    • †Genus Borhyaenidium
  • †Family Borhyaenidae
    • †Genus Nemolestes
      • †Nemolestes spalacotherinus
    • †Genus Argyrolestes
    • †Genus Angelocabrerus
    • †Genus Pharsophorus
    • †Genus Borhyaena
      • †Borhyaena tuberata
      • †Borhyaena macrodonta
    • †Genus Pseudoborhyaena
    • †Genus Acrocyon
    • †Genus Conodonictis
    • †Genus Eutemnodus
    • †Genus Parahyaenodon
  • †Family Proborhyaenidae
    • †Genus Arminiheringia
      • †Arminiheringia acueta
    • †Genus Paraborhyaena
    • †Genus Proborhyaena
      • †Proborhyaena gigantea
  • †Family Prothylacinidae
    • †Genus Pseudothylacinus
    • †Genus Prothylacynus
      • †Prothylacynus patagonicus
    • †Genus Lycopsis
      • †Lycopsis longirostris
    • †Genus Stylocynus
      • †Stylocynus paranensis
    • †Genus Pseudolycopsis
  • †Family Thylacosmilidae
    • †Genus Achlysictis
      • †Achlysictis acutidens
      • †Achlysictis lelongi
      • †Achlysictis propampina
      • †Achlysictis purgens
    • †Genus Amphiproviverra
      • †Amphiproviverra manzaniana
    • †Genus Hyaenodontops
      • †Hyaenodontops chapalmalensis
    • †Genus Notosmilus
      • †Notosmilus pattersoni
    • †Genus Thylacosmilus
      • †Thylacosmilus atrox
      • †Thylacosmilus lentis

References

•  "Sparassodonta". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911. 

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