Mongolestes

Mongolestes ("Mongolian robber") is an extinct genus of mesonychid known from the 'Ulan Gochu' formation of Inner Mongolia, and likely originated in Asia. It was the last surviving representative of Mesonychia and became extinct in the early Oligocene.

Mongolestes Temporal range: 48.6–28.4 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
M. hadrodens
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	†Mesonychia
Family:	†Mesonychidae
Genus:	†Mongolestes Szalay & Gould 1966
Species
M. hadrodens (type) Szalay & Gould 1966[1] M. alxaensis[2]

Mongolestes is distinct from other mesonychids in several dental features, including very large teeth and the loss of the third molar, and a mandibular symphysis that is steeper.^[1]

Notes

1. Szalay & Gould 1966, p. 136
2. Jin 2005, p. 163

References

• Jin, Xun (2005). "Mesonychids from Lushi Basin, Henan Province, China" (PDF). Vertebrata PalAsiatica (in Chinese and English). 43 (2): 151–164. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
• Szalay, Frederick S.; Gould, S. J. (1966). "Asiatic Mesonychidae (Mammalia, Condylarthra)". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 132 (2). hdl:2246/1112.