From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Storchodon
Temporal range: Kimmeridgian
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Synapsida
Clade: Therapsida
Clade: Cynodontia
Clade: Mammaliaformes
Order: Morganucodonta
Genus: Storchodon
Martin et al., 2019
Species:
S. cingulatus
Binomial name
Storchodon cingulatus
Martin et al., 2019

Storchodon is an extinct genus of morganucodont mammaliaforms from the Late Jurassic ( Kimmeridgian) of Germany. Its only species is Storchodon cingulatus, which is known exclusively from a single upper molar found at the Süntel Formation of Lower Saxony. [1]

Etymology

The generic name Storchodon honours the German palaeontologist Gerhard Storch, whereas the specific epithet cingulatus is a reference to the prominent cingulum of the molar. [1]

Description

Storchodon was large for a morganucodont; the holotype molar has a length of 3.07 millimetres (0.121 in), which among morganucodonts is exceeded only by the holotype of Paceyodon davidi. This large size may be a case of insular gigantism. [1] As in other morganucodonts, the molar has a triconodont shape, with the three main cusps A, B and C being set in a straight line. Cusp D is relatively large, and unlike in for example Morganucodon, it is placed at an oblique angle relative to the main cusps. [1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Martin, T.; Averianov, A. O.; Jäger, K. R. K.; Schwermann, A. H.; Wings, O. (2019). "A large morganucodontan mammaliaform from the Late Jurassic of Germany" (PDF). Fossil Imprint. 75 (3–4): 504–509. doi: 10.2478/if-2019-0030.