Alphadon
Extinct genus of mammals
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Alphadon is an extinct genus of small, primitive mammal that was a member of the metatherians, a group of mammals that includes modern-day marsupials. Its fossils were first discovered and named by George Gaylord Simpson in 1929.[2]
| Alphadon Temporal range: Late Cretaceous, [1] | |
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| Reconstruction of Alphadon sp. | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Family: | †Alphadontidae |
| Genus: | †Alphadon Simpson, 1927 |
| Species[2] | |
Description
Not much is known about the appearance of Alphadon, as it is only known from teeth, a lower jaw and skull fragments. It probably grew to about 12 in (30 cm) and may have resembled a modern opossum.[3] Judging from its teeth, it was likely an omnivore, feeding on fruits, invertebrates and possibly small vertebrates. Alphadon had a very good sense of smell and sight to track down its food, both during the day and night. Its possible whiskers could have also aided in its search for food.[4][3]
Taxonomy and classification
The type species is Alphadon marshi. Eight other species are known.[2]
The species Alphadon jasoni was originally described by Storer (1991);[5] it was subsequently transferred to the herpetotheriid genus Nortedelphys.[6]
Recent phylogenetic studies group it with other northern non-marsupial metatherians such as Albertatherium and Turgidodon.[7][8] A 2016 phylogenetic analysis is shown below.[9]
| Marsupialiformes |
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