Adding another Hyopsodus specimen resolves issues
This clade of placenta1 taxa
(Fig 1) is rarely studied and not very popular. Nevertheless their inclusion in the large reptile tree (LRT, 2337 taxa) requires the study and restudy. Perhaps they will become more popular subjects as they become better known. Hyopsodus is now represented by two specimens. Doing so resolved earlier issues brought about by treating them together, as a chimaera taxon.
Despite their differences, these two species still nest together in the LRT.
Figure 1. Two of the more complete Hyopsodus. specimens. See figure 2 for a third specimen.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/hyopsodus_skull_amnh2301.jpg?w=100″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/hyopsodus_skull_amnh2301.jpg?w=343″ class=”size-full wp-image-91642″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/hyopsodus_skull_amnh2301.jpg” alt=”Figure 1. Two of the more complete Hyopsodus. specimens. See figure 2 for a third specimen. ” width=”584″ height=”1745″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/hyopsodus_skull_amnh2301.jpg?w=584&h=1745 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/hyopsodus_skull_amnh2301.jpg?w=50&h=150 50w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/hyopsodus_skull_amnh2301.jpg?w=100&h=300 100w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/hyopsodus_skull_amnh2301.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 1. Two of the more complete Hyopsodus. specimens. See figure 2 for a third specimen. Note the difference in the posterior dorsal ribs in the two reconstructions.
In their study of Alcidedorbignya
(Fig 3) deMuizon et al 2015 reported, “Other archaic ungulate genera compared to Alcidedorbignya are: Hyopsodus, Meniscotherium, Phenacodus, Arctocyon, Arctocyonides, Pleuraspidotherium.”
So these authors recognized similarities.They also studied Nasua (Fig 3).
Figure 3. Hypsodus revised in 2024.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/hyopsodus-overall588.jpg?w=140″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/hyopsodus-overall588.jpg?w=477″ class=”size-full wp-image-88567″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/hyopsodus-overall588.jpg” alt=”Figure 3. Hypsodus revised in 2024.” width=”584″ height=”1253″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/hyopsodus-overall588.jpg?w=584&h=1253 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/hyopsodus-overall588.jpg?w=70&h=150 70w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/hyopsodus-overall588.jpg?w=140&h=300 140w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/hyopsodus-overall588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 2. Hypsodus revised in 2024.
Hyopsodus is known for its long, cylindrical torso
and relatively short, gracile limbs. Their popular name is ‘tube sheep.’
Figure 3. Hyopsodus and its relatives, currently residing within the Marsupialia among the omnivores leading to placental1 taxa.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/amphicyon.major_.titanichthys588.jpg?w=99″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/amphicyon.major_.titanichthys588.jpg?w=337″ class=”size-full wp-image-91659″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/amphicyon.major_.titanichthys588.jpg” alt=”Figure 3. Hyopsodus and its relatives, currently residing within the Marsupialia among the omnivores leading to placental1 taxa. ” width=”584″ height=”1774″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/amphicyon.major_.titanichthys588.jpg?w=584&h=1774 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/amphicyon.major_.titanichthys588.jpg?w=49&h=150 49w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/amphicyon.major_.titanichthys588.jpg?w=99&h=300 99w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/amphicyon.major_.titanichthys588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 3. Hyopsodus and its relatives, currently residing within the Marsupialia among the omnivores leading to placental1 taxa. Some, maybe all of these taxa have a long torso.
The basal taxon in this ancient (Jurassic) clade
is extant Monodelphis domestica from South America. Here it is (Fig 4) to scale with Amphicyon major (Figs 3. 4).
Figure 1. Meter long Amphicyon major is a giant verstion of little Monodelphis domestica, basal to taxa in figure 1–3.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/amphicyon_major-monodelphis_domestica.skull588.jpg?w=287″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/amphicyon_major-monodelphis_domestica.skull588.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-91721″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/amphicyon_major-monodelphis_domestica.skull588.jpg” alt=”Figure 1. Meter long Amphicyon major is a giant verstion of little Monodelphis domestica, basal to taxa in figure 1–3.” width=”584″ height=”611″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/amphicyon_major-monodelphis_domestica.skull588.jpg?w=584&h=611 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/amphicyon_major-monodelphis_domestica.skull588.jpg?w=143&h=150 143w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/amphicyon_major-monodelphis_domestica.skull588.jpg?w=287&h=300 287w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/amphicyon_major-monodelphis_domestica.skull588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 1. Meter long Amphicyon major is a giant verstion of little Monodelphis domestica, basal to taxa in figure 1–3.
Alcidedorbignya inopinata
(Muizon and Marshall 1992 Muizon et al 2015; MHNC 8372, Early Paleocene, 64 mya; scale bar is 2cm) was originally considered a basal pantodont (Condylartha) close to Pantolambda and the origin of ungulates and digging placentals. The rostrum is curved with a smaller naris. Long hooves are former claws on a semiplantigrade manus.
Hyopsodus lepticus
(H. paulus type, Leidy 1870; Late Eocene, 56-45 mya; ~20 cm in length; AMNH 143783) was originally considered a condylarth or a perissodactyl, an odd-toed ungulate, despite having a five-clawed manus and a four-clawed pes. Three molars are present.
References
Blainville H 1841. Osteographie et description iconographique comparée du squelette et du systéme dentaire des cinq classes d’animaux vertébrés récents et fossiles. Vol. 6, Carnassiers. Paris: Arthus Bertrand.
Burnett GT 1830. Illustrations of the Quadrupeda, or Quadrupeds, being the arrangement of the true four-footed Beasts indicated in outline. Quarterly Journal of Science, Literature and Art, July to December, 1829, 336–353.
Carvalho, B de A, et al (5 co-authors) 2011. Phylogenetic relationships and phylogeographic patterns in Monodelphis (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae). Journal of Mammalogy. 92(1): 121-133.
Kraus DB and Fadem BH 1987. Reproduction, development and physiology of the gray short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica). Lab Anim Sci 37(4):478–482.
Leidy J 1870. Remarks on a collection of fossils from the western territories. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 22: 109–110.
de Muizon C de & Marshall LG 1992. Alcidedorbignya inopinata (Mammalia: Pantodonta) from the early Paleocene of Bolivia: phylogenetic and paleobiogeographic implications. Journal of Paleontology 66 (3): 499-520.
deMuizon C, Billet G, Argot C, Ladeveze S and Goussard F 2015. Alcidedorbignya inopinata, a basal pantodont (Placentalia, Mammalia) from the early Palaeocene
of Bolivia: anatomy, phylogeny and palaeobiology. Geodiversitas 87(4):397-634.
Orliac MJ, Argot C and Gilissen E 2012. Digital Cranial Endocast of Hyopsodus (Mammalia, “Condylarthra”): A Case of Paleogene Terrestrial Echolocation? PlosOne v.7(2); 2012PMC3277592
wiki/Monodelphis
wiki/Hyopsodus
wiki/Amphicyon
wiki/Alcidedorbignya
wiki/Hyopsodus
Source: https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/2025/02/14/adding-another-hyopsodus-specimen-resolves-issues/
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