Filikomys is an extinct
genus of
mammal from the
Campanian of
North America. A
multituberculate, it demonstrates complex social behaviours were present in these early mammals.[3] The
type species is F. primaevus; a second, smaller species, F. minor, has been tentatively assigned to the genus.[4]
Description
Filikomys primaevus is a roughly squirrel sized mammal. Several individuals were found within the same locale. The holotype is a dentary, NMC 1890.[3]
Etymology
From Greek Filikós "friendly", and mys, mouse, alluding to its social behaviour. Primaevus is Latin for youthful.[3]
Several individuals were found co-habitating a burrow. This suggests multituberculates had complex social behaviours like modern mammals,[3] which in particular have been compared to the social complexity of
placentals.[5]
^
abcdeWeaver, Lucas N.; Varricchio, David J.; Sargis, Eric J.; Chen, Meng; Freimuth, William J.; Wilson Mantilla, Gregory P. (2 November 2020). "Early mammalian social behaviour revealed by multituberculates from a dinosaur nesting site". Nature Ecology & Evolution. 5 (1): 32–37. doi:10.1038/s41559-020-01325-8. PMID 33139921. S2CID 226241443.
^Weaver, Lucas N.; Varricchio, David J.; Sargis, Eric J.; Chen, Meng; Freimuth, William J.; Wilson Mantilla, Gregory P. (2020-11-02). "(Supplementary information) Early mammalian social behaviour revealed by multituberculates from a dinosaur nesting site". Nature Ecology & Evolution. 5 (1): 32–37.
doi:
10.1038/s41559-020-01325-8.
ISSN2397-334X.