| Holoclemensia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Teeth ofHoloclemensia | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Clade: | Metatheria Slaughter, 1968 |
| Genus: | †Holoclemensia Slaughter, 1968 |
| Type species | |
| †Holoclemensia texana Slaughter, 1968 | |
| Synonyms | |
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Holoclemensia is anextinctgenus ofmammal of uncertain phylogenetic placement. It lived during theEarly Cretaceous and its fossil remains were discovered inTexas.
This genus is only known from a few isolated teeth. The upper molars had a paracone larger than the metacone, and a stylar platform with stylar cusps. The lower molars had a high protoconid, a small paraconid, and the hypoconulid and entoconid were close.[1]
First described in 1968 by Slaughter,Holoclemensia texana is only known from a few teeth found in theTrinity Formation, inTexas. Slaughter initially described the remains under the nameClemensia, but this name was already in use for agenus of moths and the genus was renamedHoloclemensia. It was initially considered to be a basalmarsupial, then was approached of the so-called group "Tribotheria",[2] was later reconsidered as a marsupial,[3] and was finally placed as a basal member ofMetatheria.[4] Despite its uncertain classification,Holoclemensia was probably close to the point whereMetatherians andEutherians diverged from each other.
