| Steropodontids | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Steropodon dentary | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Synapsida |
| Clade: | Mammaliaformes |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Monotremata |
| Family: | †Steropodontidae Archer,Flannery, Ritchie, & Jones, 1995 |
| Type genus | |
| Steropodon Archer, Flannery, Ritchie, &Molnar, 1985 | |
| Genera | |
Steropodontidae is an extinctfamily of earlymonotreme mammals known from theCretaceous ofAustralia.
Steropodon was initially placed in thecrown group monotreme familyOrnithorhynchidae but was subsequently made thetype genus of Steropodontidae, its ownmonotypic family.[1] The monotremeTeinolophos was suggested to also belong in this family,[2] before also being placed in a distinct family.[3]Parvopalus, known from the same locality asSteropodon, may be a steropodontid.[4]
Steropodontids are small monotremes;Steropodon has an estimated body mass of 2 kilograms (4.4 lb), andParvopalus represents the smallest mammal found in its faunal assemblage. Members of this clade are characterized by having narrow and tall dentaries compared to other monotremes, and a prominent ascending ramus of the dentary.[4]
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