“M” is for Mixodectes

“M” is for Mixodectes

Mixodectes is a member of the mammalian Order Insectivora, which is a bunch of mammals grouped together because of they appear to be insect eaters. As it happens, this grouping is best considered a ‘grade’ rather than a ‘clade.’

Clades are natural groups, meaning that they are groups of organisms put together because they are truly closely related (evolutionarily), and usually share several advanced traits. Grades are groups of organisms that are put together because they are equally primitive. They may or may not be actually related to each other by evolutionary processes.

Modern mammals with traits linked to insectivory (eating bugs) have much in common with the earliest mammals. It is likely that the first mammals were also insectivores. These mammals are small, with simple tribosphenic teeth. They are typically shrew-like. However, since insectivory is the starting condition for all mammals, grouping insectivorous mammals together into the Order Insectivora doesn’t help clarify their evolutionary relationships. They are just primitive, but could represent early members of groups that are now very distinct.

Because the teeth represent a primitive insectivore pattern, it can be hard to identify species. Here I had one tooth that I at first thought was Mixodectes.

I took the specimen with me to the American Museum of Natural History and made some comparisons between it and teeth identified as Mixodectes and another insectivore called Eudemonema. After this comparison, and checking the measurements, I concluded that this tooth was actually Eudemonema.

In looking at my notes, I called this tooth all sorts of things before I finally concluded that it belonged to Eudemonema. Such is the nature of this science.

For the A to Z blogging challenge.

For 4-15-13