Microtherulum

Microtherulum; Temporal range: Early Cretaceous (Aptian)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Clade:	Eutheria
Genus:	†Microtherulum; Wang & Wang, 2023
Type species
	Microtherulum oneirodes; Wang & Wang, 2023

Microtherulum is an extinct genus of eutherian mammal known from the Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of China. It is one of the most earliest and most primitive eutherians.

Description

The genus is known from a mostly complete skeleton, including a well preserved skull, which is about 2 centimetres (0.79 in) long. The ear, which among the best known in basal eutherians is microtype, adapted for hearing high-frequency sounds. The dental formula is 5 incisors, 1 canine, 5 premolars and 3 molars in the each half of the upper jaw, and 4 incisors, 1 canine, 5 premolars and 3 molars in each half of the lower jaw, which is typical for basal eutherians.[1]

Phylogeny

Microtherulum has been placed close to the base of Eutheria.[1]

Metatheria

Eutheria

	Sinodelphys

	Ambolestes

Acristatherium

Microtherulum

Cokotherium

Juramaia

Eomaia

Prokennalestes

Murtoilestes

Montanalestes

Daulestes

Ukhaatherium

	Asioryctes

	Kennalestes

	Gypsonictops

	Cimolestes

Zalambdalestes

Aspanlestes

	Protungulatum

	Eoungulatum

	Leptictis

	Placentalia

References

Wang, Haibing; Wang, Yuanqing (2023-10-26). "Middle ear innovation in Early Cretaceous eutherian mammals". Nature Communications. 14 (1). doi:10.1038/s41467-023-42606-7. ISSN 2041-1723. PMC 10603157. PMID 37884521.

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[:0-1] Wang, Haibing; Wang, Yuanqing (2023-10-26). "Middle ear innovation in Early Cretaceous eutherian mammals". Nature Communications. 14 (1). doi:10.1038/s41467-023-42606-7. ISSN 2041-1723. PMC 10603157. PMID 37884521.