Anatoliadelphys

Anatoliadelphys maasae is an extinct genus of predatory metatherian mammal from the Eocene of Europe. It was an arboreal, cat-sized animal, with powerful crushing jaws similar to those of the modern Tasmanian devil. Although most mammalian predators of the northern hemisphere in this time period were placentals, Europe was an archipelago, and the island landmass now forming Turkey might have been devoid of competing mammalian predators,[1] though this may not matter since other carnivorous metatherians are also known from the Cenozoic in the Northern Hemisphere.[2] Nonetheless, it stands as a reminder that mammalian faunas in the Paleogene of the Northern Hemisphere were more complex than previously thought, and metatherians did not lose their hold as major predators after their success in the Cretaceous.[1]

Anatoliadelphys
Temporal range: Middle Eocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Family: †Anatoliadelphyidae
Genus: †Anatoliadelphys
A. Murat Maga; Robin M. D. Beck, 2017
Species:
†A. maasae
Binomial name
†Anatoliadelphys maasae
A. Murat Maga; Robin M. D. Beck, 2017

Taxonomy

The description of the new species and its genus, Anatoliadelphys, was published in 2017. The genus name combines terms derived from Greek, Anatolia for a region of Turkey and delphys, meaning uterus, a commonly suffix for marsupial taxa. The specific epithet honours the work of palaeontologist Mary Maas.[1]

Description

Holotype AÜJM 2002–25 was found in the Uzunçarşıdere Formation, Turkey. It is composed of a three-dimensionally preserved partial skull and near complete postcranial skeleton, one of the most well-preserved northern hemisphere metatherian specimens. The animal is approximately as large as a modern domestic cat at 2.76-3.97 kg; calculations were particularly difficult because its teeth are proportionally larger than those of modern carnivorous marsupials. The jaws are relatively short and robust and possess massive crushing, heavily worn premolars and molars and long, robust canines (no known incisors); while the skull is too incomplete to calculate the precise bite-force, it was most likely specialised for crushing and therefore it must have had a powerful bite.

The post-cranial skeleton seems to indicate an arboreal or semi-arboreal lifestyle, bearing grasping digits and a prehensile tail.

Phylogenetics

A study incorporating several metatherian taxa showcases it as a non-marsupial but marsupialiform metatherian, most closely related to peradectids.

Biology

Anatoliadelphys is inferred to be a specialised carnivore based on its dentition, with premolars and molars similar to those of other bone-crushing mammals (though these also resemble those of durophagous mammals as well, suggesting at least opportunistic clam-feeding) and massive, stabbing canines. Like most modern dasyuromorphians and several extinct metatherians like sparassodonts, it killed its prey with its jaws. It some aspects it resembles stagodontids, which also have crushing premolars and are inferred carnivores and molluscivores, though it lacks semi-aquatic adaptations and it has larger premolars and molars.

The authors of its paper claim that it was the largest carnivorous metatherian in the Cenozoic in the Northern Hemisphere, having likely evolved in isolation in the islands that are now Turkey, devoid of common placental carnivores of the time such as hyaenodonts and carnivorans.[1] However, larger carnivorous metatherians are known from the Eocene and Miocene of Eurasia.[2]

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References
  1. A. Murat Maga; Robin M. D. Beck (2017). "Skeleton of an unusual, cat-sized marsupial relative (Metatheria: Marsupialiformes) from the middle Eocene (Lutetian: 44-43 million years ago) of Turkey". PLoS ONE. 12 (8): e0181712. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0181712.
  2. Sánchez-Villagra, Marcelo, Why are There Fewer Marsupials than Placentals? On the Relevance of Geography and Physiology to Evolutionary Patterns of Mammalian Diversity and Disparity, December 2013, Volume 20, Issue 4, pp 279-290
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