Re: Necrolestes (was Re: mesosaurus)

[Tim Williams <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

K and T Dykes wrote:

> For what it's worth, I've got an entry for Necrolestes, and the main part
> reads:

[snip]

> Further skulls, jaws and pieces of skeleton were collected by Hatcher, and
> were then described by Scott in 1905. He (erroneously) cancelled marsupial
> affinities and sought to ally the animal with the golden moles of South
> Africa. There are similarities, but these appear to be the results of
> similar lifestyles.

The similarities between chrysochlorids and necrolestids lie not only in 
overall morphology (i.e., "mole-like" face and body), but also in the 
dentition.  The two groups have strikingly similar teeth (including the 
"triangular crowns", which you mention for _Necrolestes_).  As you say, this 
could be due to similar lifestyles.  Most authors favor 
ameridelphian/sparassodont affinities for _Necrolestes_.

Thanks for the info.


Tim