Deccanolestes
Encyclopedia
Deccanolestes is a scansorial, basal
Euarchontan from the Late Cretaceous
(Maastrichtian
) Intertrappean Beds
of Andhra Pradesh
, India
. It may be closely related to Sahnitherium
. Deccanolestes has been referred to Palaeoryctidae
in the past, but recent evidence has shown the it is either the most basal Euarchontan or the earliest known Adapisoriculid.
Deccanolestes hislopi is based on an isolated first upper molar (VPL/JU/NKIM/10). A third molar, a lower third premolar, various other isolated teeth, and some postcranial remains have been referred to it.
Deccanolestes robustus is based on an isolated lower first molar. Isolated teeth and some ankle remains have also been referred to it.
Deccanolestes was the first Indian Cretaceous mammal to be named.
Basal (phylogenetics)
In phylogenetics, a basal clade is the earliest clade to branch in a larger clade; it appears at the base of a cladogram.A basal group forms an outgroup to the rest of the clade, such as in the following example:...
Euarchontan from the Late Cretaceous
Late Cretaceous
The Late Cretaceous is the younger of two epochs into which the Cretaceous period is divided in the geologic timescale. Rock strata from this epoch form the Upper Cretaceous series...
(Maastrichtian
Maastrichtian
The Maastrichtian is, in the ICS' geologic timescale, the latest age or upper stage of the Late Cretaceous epoch or Upper Cretaceous series, the Cretaceous period or system, and of the Mesozoic era or erathem. It spanned from 70.6 ± 0.6 Ma to 65.5 ± 0.3 Ma...
) Intertrappean Beds
Intertrappean Beds
The Intertrappean Beds are a Late Cretaceous geologic formation in India. Indeterminate theropod and pterosaur remains have been recovered from the formation, as well as dinosaur eggs. The mammal genera Deccanolestes, Sahnitherium, Bharattherium , and Kharmerungulatum have been recovered from it as...
of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It may be closely related to Sahnitherium
Sahnitherium
Sahnitherium is a possible basal Euarchontan from the Maastrichtian of the Intertrappean Beds of Andhra Pradesh, India. It may be closely related to Deccanolestes. The holotype is an upper molar, and it is the only specimen of Sahnitherium....
. Deccanolestes has been referred to Palaeoryctidae
Palaeoryctidae
Palaeoryctidae is an extinct group of relatively non-specialized placental mammals that strived in North America during the late Cretaceous and took part in the first placental evolutionary radiation together with other early mammals such as the leptictids.- Description :From a near-complete skull...
in the past, but recent evidence has shown the it is either the most basal Euarchontan or the earliest known Adapisoriculid.
Deccanolestes hislopi is based on an isolated first upper molar (VPL/JU/NKIM/10). A third molar, a lower third premolar, various other isolated teeth, and some postcranial remains have been referred to it.
Deccanolestes robustus is based on an isolated lower first molar. Isolated teeth and some ankle remains have also been referred to it.
Deccanolestes was the first Indian Cretaceous mammal to be named.