Biology:Docodontidae

Short description: Extinct family of mammaliaforms

Docodontidae Temporal range: Early Jurassic–Upper Jurassic PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Clade:	Synapsida
Clade:	Therapsida
Clade:	Cynodontia
Clade:	Mammaliaformes
Order:	†Docodonta
Superfamily:	†Docodontoidea Marsh, 1887
Family:	†Docodontidae Marsh, 1887
Genera
Agilodocodon Borealestes Castorocauda? Cyrtlatherium Dobunnodon Docodon Docofossor Dsungarodon Gondtherium Haldanodon Peraiocynodon Tashkumyrodon

Docodontidae is an extinct family of omnivorous, ecologically diverse mammaliformes that lived during the Early (Toarcian) to Upper Jurassic. Their remains have been found in Europe, Asia and North America. The mesiolingual part of lower molars regularly have wear.

Recent discoveries from China have surprised palaeontologists, revealing that this mammal group exploited a surprising number of ecological niches. There were specialised semiaquatic forms such as Castorocauda, specialist tree-climbers such as Agilodocodon, and specialised diggers like Docofossor. However, according to Fossilworcs Paleoboilogical Database the latter two are more basal in docodonts and sister taxa of docodontidae (and therefore within docodontoidea). Coupled with their unique dentition, although this offshoot of the mammal tree left no descendants, Docodontans formed a diverse and successful group that was a core component of extinct Jurassic ecosystems in the Northern Hemisphere.

External links

• Paleo
• Nature

Wikidata ☰ Q3817239 entry