Anagale gobiensis (Simpson 1931; early Oligocene; 30cm in length; AMNH 26079) was originally considered an insectivore, close to the tree shrew, Tupaia, and tending to link to lemurs like Notharctus. Thirty years later McKenna 1963 argued against tupaioid affinities, but could not provide a more suitable nesting. Here rabbit-sized Anagale nests with Siamotherium at the base of the clade that produces tenrecs and toothed whales.
The closest living relative to these taxa is Rhynchcyon, the golden rumped elephant shrew. The teeth of Anagale are typically worn and the claws were shovel-shaped, suggesting a diet of subterranean worms and beetles. The peculiar combination of large fissured claws of the manus and distally spatulate unguals of the pes is very uncommon in mammals. The ectotympanic bulla protecting the middle ear bones is quite large. The fourth premolar has a broad worn molar shape in occlusal view. |
