Planetetherium

Planetetherium is an extinct genus of herbivorous gliding mammal (like Colugo) endemic to North America during the Paleogene living from 56.8—55.4 mya, existing for approximately 1.4 million years.[1]

Planetetherium
Temporal range: Latest Paleocene
Fossil
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Dermoptera
Family:
†Plagiomenidae
Genus:
†Planetetherium

Simpson, 1928
Species:
†P. mirabile
Binomial name
†Planetetherium mirabile
Simpson, 1928

Fossils have been discovered in strata formed from ancient cypress forests, suggesting that this was the animal's preferred habitat.

Morphology

Plantetherium measured around 25 centimetres (10 in) in length, and its skeleton closely resembled that of its modern relatives. Its teeth already included the comb-like structure distinctive to modern colugos. There is no direct evidence that Planetetherium had the membrane of skin that allows modern colugos to glide, but its bodily proportions suggests that this was likely the case.[2]

gollark: Remotely disable any nearby car engines somehow.
gollark: Sound an extremely loud buzzer if anyone goes near you.
gollark: Perhaps you could automatically launch lawsuits against anyone who drives badly near you somehow.
gollark: You could try making your bike more visible, yes. This seems reasonable. As long as it doesn't blind people.
gollark: Unless they're *cool* illegal activities.

References
  1. PaleoBiology Database: Planetetherium, basic info
  2. Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 210. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.


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