Extinct Proargyrolagus linked to extant Dromiciops, both marsupials from Bolivia
Late Oligocene Proargyrolagus
(Fig 1) shares a long list of traits with another Bolivian marsupial, extant Dromiciops (Fig 1), in the large reptile tree (LRT, 2336 taxa). A review of the literature indicates support for this hypothesis of interrelationships by Sanchez-Villagra 2001.
These two nest with extant Marmosa and Marmosops, also from South America. And these were close to phalangers, wombats and kangaroos.
Figure 1. To tiny marsupial skulls compred: Dromiciops and Proargyrolagus.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/proargyrolagus_skull588.jpg?w=223″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/proargyrolagus_skull588.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-91631″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/proargyrolagus_skull588.jpg” alt=”Figure 1. To tiny marsupial skulls compred: Dromiciops and Proargyrolagus. ” width=”584″ height=”787″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/proargyrolagus_skull588.jpg?w=584&h=787 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/proargyrolagus_skull588.jpg?w=111&h=150 111w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/proargyrolagus_skull588.jpg?w=223&h=300 223w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/proargyrolagus_skull588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 1. To tiny marsupial skulls compred: Dromiciops and Proargyrolagus.
Just a few years earlier
Sánche-Villagra and Kay 1997 reported, “The Argyrolagidae are one of the most enigmatic extinct groups of South American mammals. Most of what is known about this group is based on the description by Simpson (1970a, b) of skulls, jaws, and postcrania of several highly specialized Plio-Pleistocene species from Argentina.”
These authors uncertainly compared this clade to Groeberia, an unrelated stylinodontid placental in the LRT.
Figure 1. Ptilocercus and Dromiciops in vivo.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ptilocercus.dromiciops.invivo588.jpg?w=300″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ptilocercus.dromiciops.invivo588.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-88197″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ptilocercus.dromiciops.invivo588.jpg” alt=”Figure 1. Ptilocercus and Dromiciops in vivo.” width=”584″ height=”379″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ptilocercus.dromiciops.invivo588.jpg?w=584&h=379 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ptilocercus.dromiciops.invivo588.jpg?w=150&h=97 150w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ptilocercus.dromiciops.invivo588.jpg?w=300&h=195 300w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ptilocercus.dromiciops.invivo588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 1. Ptilocercus and Dromiciops in vivo.
Dromiciops is convergent with Ptilocercus,
a placental tree shrew in size, shape and niche.
References
Sanchez-Villagra MR 2001. The phylogenetic relationships of argyrolagid marsupials. Zoological Journal of Linnean Society 131(4):481–496.
Sanchez-Villagra MR and Kay RF 1997. A skull of Proargyrolagus, the oldest argyrolagid (Late Oligocene Salla Beds, Bolivia), with brief comments concerning its paleobiology. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 17(4):717-724.
Simpson GG 1970. The Argyrolagidae, extinct South American marsupials. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 139, 1–86.
Wolff RG 1984. A new early Oligocene argyrolagid (Mammalia: Marsupialia) from Salla, Bolivia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 4:108-113.
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Source: https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/2025/02/11/extinct-proargyrolagus-linked-to-extant-dromiciops-both-marsupials-from-bolivia/
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