| Laurasiatheria | ||
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Abbreviated Dendrogram
Eutheria
├─Euarchontaglires
├?─Chiroptera
└─Laurasiatheria
├?─Insectivora
└─Ferungulata
├─┬─Ferae
│ └─Pholidota
└─┬─┬─Phenacodontidae
│ └─Perissodactyla
└─Eparctocyona
├─┬─Arctostylopida
│ └─┬─Mesonychia
│ └─Cetartiodactyla
└─Bulbulodentata
├─Hyopsodontidae
└─Meridiungulata
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Contents
Overview |
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The Laurasiatheria are one of the four main clades of placental mammals, as revealed by molecular sequencing. Controversially, there are absolutely no morphological traits that define this taxon. However, a more restricted Laurasiatheria, the Ferungulata, is supported by both molecules and morphology, and so here we are on firmer ground. This diverse and important evolutionary lineage began with unspecialised, omnivorous, Paleocene mammals. By the end of the Eocene they dominated terrestrial faunas, and had already become specialise dinto various carnivore and herbivore niches. While other clades such as the Archontaglires (rodents and primates) and the Afrotheria (elephants and their kin) would also be important, it is the ferungulates that became the most diverse and characrteristic animals of teh age of mammals. MAK120717
page MAK120321
