Ektopodon
Temporal range: Pliocene-Pleistocene, 2.588–0.781 Ma
↓
Life reconstruction of Ektopodon serratus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Marsupialia
Order: Diprotodontia
Suborder: Phalangeriformes
Superfamily: Phalangeroidea
Family: †Ektopodontidae
Stirton, Tedford & Woodburne 1967
Genus: †Ektopodon
Stirton, Tedford & Woodburne, 1967.[1]
Species

Ektopodon serratus
Ektopodon stirtoni
Ektopodon ulta

Ektopodon is an extinct genus of marsupial,[2] and is the type genus of the family Ektopodontidae which occurred in forested environments in South Australia, Queensland and Victoria. The last species of this group went extinct in the early Pleistocene (between 2.588 million years ago and 781,000 years ago). Its body mass was estimated around 1300 grams. Scientists believe that ektopodontids were highly specialised seed-eating possums.

The type species Ektopodon serratus describes material excavated at the Lake Ngapakaldi fossil site in South Australia.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Stirton, R. A.; Tedford, Richard H.; Woodburne, Michael O. (1967). "A new Tertiary formation and fauna from the Tirari Desert, South Australia". Records of the South Australian Museum. 15 (3): 427–462.
  2. ^ "Ektopodon sp. cf. E. serratus". www.wakaleo.net. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2017.


Categories