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Is Deltatheridium a Marsupial?

Nature volume 245, pages 105–106 (1973)Cite this article

Abstract

THE family Deltatheridiidae was proposed by Gregory and Simpson1 to include two late Cretaceous mammals from the Djadokhta Formation of Mongolia (? Coniacian or Santonian2): Deltatheridium pretrituberculare, known from two partial skulls and associated lower jaws, and Deltatheroides cretacicus, known only by the facial part of a skull with upper dentition. They were believed to occupy a very central phylogenetic position among the eutherian mammals. Van Valen3 included them in the Palaeoryctidae, order Deltatheridia, but one of us (P. M. B.)4 has for some time doubted the correctness of these opinions.

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References

  1. Gregory, W. K., and Simpson, G. G., Am. Mus. Novit., 225 (1926).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Royal Holloway College, “Alderhurst”, Bakeham Lane, Englefield Green, Surrey, TW20 9TY

    P. M. BUTLER

  2. Zaklad Paleozoologii, Polska Akademia Nauk, 02-089, Warszawa, Al. Zwirki i Wigury 93

    Z. KIELAN-JAWOROWSKA

Authors
  1. P. M. BUTLER
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  2. Z. KIELAN-JAWOROWSKA
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BUTLER, P., KIELAN-JAWOROWSKA, Z. Is Deltatheridium a Marsupial?. Nature 245, 105–106 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/245105a0

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