Scutisorex and Apternodus

Apternodus baladontus (Matthew1903, Asher et al 2002; Eocene to Oligocene, 35mya) was traditionally considered a member of the Soricomorpha, an invalid clade in the LRT of terrestrial and burrowing placental shrew-like forms. Here Apternodus nests with Scutisorex, the shrew. Some premolars are bulbous.

Scutiisorex thori (Thomas 1913, extant; 30cm in length) one of the largest shrews, has interlocking vertebrae to prevent crushing. It isderived from a sister to Tupaia and basal to Apatemys and Trogosus. It is an omnivore with a high metabolic rate. Some shrews are among the smallest of all living mammals.

Click here for Glires skulls compared.

Asher RJ et al (4 co-authors) 2002. Morphology and relationships of Apternodus and other extinct, zalambdodont, placental mammals. Bulletin of the AMNH 273:1–117.

Matthew WD 1903. The fauna of the Titanotherium Beds at Pipestone Springs, Montana. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 19(6):197–226.

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

Thomas 1910. Scientific results of the American Museum of Natural History Congo Expedition. Mammalogy 3.

wiki/Scutisorex
wiki/Apternodus - not yet posted

Mammalia - Monotremata

Ornithorhynchus and kin

Marsupiala - Metatheria

Eomaia and kin

Monodelphis and kin

Placentalia 2

Scandentia

Asioryctes

Ptilocercus

Tupaia