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Elpidophorus elegans
Taxonomy
Elpidophorus elegans was named by Simpson (1927). Its type specimen is A.M.N.H. No. 15541, a mandible (fragment of right ramus of a young specimen, with M1-2), and it is a 3D body fossil. It is the type species of Elpidophorus.
Synonyms
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Synonymy list
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If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.
†Elpidophorus elegans Simpson 1927
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Invalid names: Elpidophorus patratus Simpson 1936 [synonym]
Diagnosis
| Reference | Diagnosis | |
|---|---|---|
| G. G. Simpson 1927 | The teeth preserved in the type were preceded by at least three closely spaced premolars, the alveoli of which increase regularly in size from front to back. The first molar is of tuberculosectorial type, with a small trigonid. The metaconid is the largest cusp of the tooth, the protoconid being about the same size as the reduced paraconid. The latter is almost directly anterior to the metaconid. There is a not very marked anterior cingulum, skirting the protoconid externally and then passing onto the anterior face, here running internally, rising as it goes, but not passing onto the internal face of the trigonid. The talonid is similar in structure to that of M2 but less well preserved. In the second molar the trigonid is slightly broader, the paraconid relatively smaller, and the prd and med relatively larger. The broad heel
is distinctly basined, with large and high end, comparable to the prd in height but lower than the med, and a smaller hyd. A deeply notched crest unites the end and med internally, and another less prominent crest descends from the tip of the end anteroexternally into the talonid basin. A crest runs from the hyd to the connate bases of the hyd and prd below the notch which separates them. This crest bears a very small cuspule on the anterointernal slope of the hyd. Another crest runs from the hyd straight internally toward the end, but instead of uniting with the latter this forms a very small cusp at its tase external and a little posterior to it. Beginning at a definite point on the posterior surface near this cusp a narrow posterior cingulum runs outward and downward, becoming narrower and not passing onto the external face of the hyd. The third molar is not present in the holotype, but is well shown in the paratype. On this molar the pad is still distinct and internal in position, but it is very small, while the metaconid very greatly overtops the protoconid. The trigonid is wider relatively, beinghere aboμt as wide as the talonid, while on M1-2 it is narrower. The end and hyd are much as in the latter teeth in relative size and shape and in their rela- tions to the trigonid and to each other, save that the very slight cusp-like swelling of the crest which runs from the apex of the hyd toward the end is.absent. Posterior to the talonid, however, and in an almost median position is a third large cusp, the hypoconulid, corresponding in position and relationships to the upper end of the sloping posterior cingulum of the other molars. It is as high as the entoconid, only slightly angulate, and is entirely excluded from the talonid basin. |
Measurements
No measurements are available
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| Source: o = order, subc = subclass, c = class, subp = subphylum | |||||
| References: Nowak 1999, Hendy et al. 2009, Carroll 1988, Lillegraven 1979, Ji et al. 2002 | |||||
Age range: base of the Ti1 to the top of the Torrejonian or 61.70000 to 60.90000 Ma
Collections (16 total)
| Time interval | Ma | Country or state | Original ID and collection number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torrejonian | Canada (Alberta) | Elpidophorus elegans (194574) | |
| Ti1 | Canada (Alberta) | Elpidophorus elegans (14939) | |
| Ti3 | Canada (Alberta) | Elpidophorus elegans (14928 14992) | |
| Tiffanian | USA (Montana) | Elpidophorus elegans (14937 15025) Elpidophorus patratus (15037 15064) | |
| Tiffanian | Canada (Alberta) | Elpidophorus elegans (14929 14949 14954 14957 14959 14973) | |
| Tiffanian | USA (Wyoming) | Elpidophorus elegans (15017 15034) |