Alocodontullum, Patriomanus and Manis

Patriomanis americana (Emry 1970; Gaudin, Emery and Morris 2016, Late Eocene, Wyoming) is only slightly different from the extant pangolin, Manis. This taxon is based on several specimens.

Manis pentadactyla (Linneus 1758) is the extant, scaly anteater, a member of the order Pholidota. That order has been traditionally difficult to nest. Often it has been nested with aardvarks, like Orycterpus. Here Manis nests with Metacheiromys (below) and Chriacus. These taxa nest with Paleocene tree shrews that ventured to the ground following the dinosaur extinction event. Uniquely, keratinized scales cover the body. Those are modified hairs.

Alocodontullum atopum (Rose, Bown and Simons 1978; Rose, Emery and Gingerich 1992; early Eocene, 45 cm in length; UM 93740) is a close relative of Metacheiromys differing chiefly in relative metatarsal and toe lengths and having flat-cusped teeth poterior to the fang-like canines. Claws and forelimbs appear ready to dig. Hands and feet are relatively larger. Mandible is relatively smaller.

Rose, Emery and Gingerich 1992 nest Alocondontulum in a clade named Epoicotheriidae, but Epoicotherium and Xenocranium nest in another clade, that of fairy armadillos in the LRT.

Emry RJ 1970. A North American Oligocene Pangolin and Other Additions to the
Pholidota. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 142:459–510.

Gaudin TJ, Emery RJ and Morris J 2016. Skeletal Anatomy of the North American Pangolin Patriomanis americana (Mammalia, Pholidota) from the Latest Eocene of Wyoming (USA). Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press.

Gaudin et al. 2009. The phylogeny of living and extinct pangolins (Mammalia, Pholidota) and associated taxa: a morphology based analysis. Journal of Mammalian Evolution 16:235-305.

Emry RJ 1970. A North American Oligocene pangolin and other additions to the Pholidota. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 142: 455-510.

Gaudin TJ, Emery RJ and Morris J 2016. Skeletal Anatomy of the North American Pangolin Patriomanis americana (Mammalia, Pholidota) from the Latest Eocene of Wyoming (USA). Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press.

Linnaeus C 1758. Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata.

Rose KD, Bown TM and Simons EL 1978. Alocodontulum, a new name for Alocodon Rose, Bown and Simons 1977, non Thulborn, 1973. Journal of Paleontology 52:1162.

Rose KD, Emery RJ and Gingerich PD 1992. Skeleton of Alocodontulum atopum, an early Eocene epoicotheriid (Mammalia, Palaeanodonta) from the Bighorn Basin, Wyoming. Contributions from the Museum of Paleontology. The University of Michigan 28(10):221–245.

Rose KD, et al. 2005. Xenarthra and Pholidota. In The Rise of Placental Mammals. Rose KD, Archibald JD. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press

Shaw BJ. 2010. The enigmatic anteaters, sloths, and armadillos: elucidating evolutionary relationships among xenarthran families, Ernanodon antelios, and remaining mammals. Dissertation. Portland State University.

wiki/Manis
wiki/Patriomanus
wiki/Pangolin = Pholidota

Mammalia

Ornithorhynchus and kin

Marsupials - Metatheria

Eomaia and kin

Placentalia 2

Tupaia and kin

Placentalia 1

Primates – Chiroptera

Notharctus and kin

Carnivora

Nandinia and kin