Early Cretaceous Ambolestes has two extant relatives
Three similar and similar-size marsupial taxa
are shown below, Monodelphis sorex, Phascogale and Ambolestes (Figs 1, 2). The first two are extant. The latter is from the Early Cretaceous. All three are about 25cm long = 10 inches in total length = including the tail.
Figure 1. Early Cretaceous Ambolestes and two extant relatives, Monodelphis sorex and Phascogale, to scale.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/monodelphis-sorex-phascogale588.jpg?w=300″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/monodelphis-sorex-phascogale588.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-91513″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/monodelphis-sorex-phascogale588.jpg” alt=”Figure 1. Early Cretaceous Ambolestes and two extant relatives, Monodelphis sorex and Phascogale, to scale. ” width=”584″ height=”382″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/monodelphis-sorex-phascogale588.jpg?w=584&h=382 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/monodelphis-sorex-phascogale588.jpg?w=150&h=98 150w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/monodelphis-sorex-phascogale588.jpg?w=300&h=196 300w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/monodelphis-sorex-phascogale588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 1. Early Cretaceous Ambolestes and two extant relatives, Monodelphis sorex and Phascogale, to scale.
Two of these
are little, brown, mousey-looking taxa (Figs 2, 3). The extinct one was likely similar.
Figure 1. Phascogale in vivo.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/phascogale_invivo588.jpg?w=300″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/phascogale_invivo588.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-89765″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/phascogale_invivo588.jpg” alt=”Figure 1. Phascogale in vivo.” width=”584″ height=”356″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/phascogale_invivo588.jpg?w=584&h=356 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/phascogale_invivo588.jpg?w=150&h=91 150w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/phascogale_invivo588.jpg?w=300&h=183 300w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/phascogale_invivo588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 2. Phascogale in vivo.
Phascogale lacks a pouch.
Monodelphis sorex lacks a pouch. Ambolestes does not preserve soft tissue.
Figure 4. Monodelphis sorex as a museum specimen.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/monodelphis_sorex_specimen588.jpg?w=300″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/monodelphis_sorex_specimen588.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-70815″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/monodelphis_sorex_specimen588.jpg” alt=”Figure 4. Monodelphis sorex as a museum specimen.” width=”584″ height=”547″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/monodelphis_sorex_specimen588.jpg?w=584&h=547 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/monodelphis_sorex_specimen588.jpg?w=150&h=141 150w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/monodelphis_sorex_specimen588.jpg?w=300&h=281 300w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/monodelphis_sorex_specimen588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 3. Monodelphis sorex as a museum specimen.
The anterior placement of the orbit
is only one trait that unites these relatives.
Revisions to the LRT
that nested these taxa together added a fourth origin for the placental reproduction trait by convergence. That moved tenrecs and odontocetes apart from primates, so that earlier post was removed because it is no longer valid.
Source: https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/2025/02/19/early-cretaceous-ambolestes-has-two-extant-relatives/
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