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1 September 2012 New Large Leptictid Insectivore from the Late Paleogene of South Dakota, USA
TJ Meehan, Larry D. Martin
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Abstract

From a skull and mandible, we describe a new genus and species of a primitive insectivore (Mammalia: Insectivora: Leptictida: Leptictidae). Its large body size and higher-crowned teeth indicate a different feeding ecology from other leptictid insectivores. With evidence of some heavy, flat wear on the molariform teeth, its shift in diet was likely to greater herbivory. Unlike the narrow snout of Blacktops, this new leptictid retains a broad snout, suggesting that small vertebrates were still important dietary components. The specimen was collected from the floodplain deposits of the lower or middle White River Group of South Dakota, which represent the latest Eocene to earliest Oligocene (Chadronian and Orellan North American Land Mammal “Ages”).

TJ Meehan and Larry D. Martin "New Large Leptictid Insectivore from the Late Paleogene of South Dakota, USA," Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 57(3), 509-518, (1 September 2012). https://doi.org/10.4202/app.2011.0035
Received: 4 April 2011; Accepted: 25 July 2011; Published: 1 September 2012
KEYWORDS
Eocene
Leptictidae
Leptictis
Mammalia
Megaleptictis
North America
Oligocene
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