Mesogaulus
Extinct genus of mylagaulid rodent
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Mesogaulus is a genus of mylagaulid rodent from Miocene North America.[1]
| Mesogaulus Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| |
| Mandible of M. ballensis | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | †Mylagaulidae |
| Genus: | †Mesogaulus Riggs, 1899 |
| Species | |
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Mylagaulus paniensis | |
Description
Mesogaulus is very basal morphologically, lacking horns of later mylagaulids like Ceratogaulus. The genus also has large fourth premolars and hypsodont teeth, though not to the extremes of later mylagaulids. The first molar is elongated, whilst the third is more rotund.[2] Similar to other members of their clade, Mesogaulus has a low, broad skull.[3][4]
Classification
Mesogaulus is currently grouped within Mesogaulinae, a potentially paraphyletic subfamily[5] within Mylagaulidae containing the more basal members of the group.[6] It has been suggested historically that Mesogaulus was ancestral to the later mylagaulines,[2] though this is not supported by modern phylogenies.[6]