Notopolytheles
| Notopolytheles Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | †Multituberculata |
| Family: | †Neoplagiaulacidae |
| Genus: | †Notopolytheles |
| Species: | †N. joelis |
| Binomial name | |
| †Notopolytheles joelis Gelfo et al., 2025 | |
Notopolytheles is an extinct monotypic genus of neoplagiaulacid multituberculate that lived in South America during the Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous epoch.[1][2]
Etymology
[edit]The generic name Notopolytheles derives from the Greek words noto, poly, and theles, which mean "southern", "multiple", and "protuberance". The latter two roots refer to the taxonomic identity of Notopolytheles as a multituberculate due to them being notable for possessing many cusps on their cheek teeth, while the former root references the taxon inhabiting the Southern Hemisphere. The specific epithet of the type species, Notopolytheles joelis, honours Joel Hernán Carino, the discoverer of the holotype of the species.[3]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Notopolytheles". Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ "Notopolytheles joelis". Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ Gelfo, Javier N.; Goin, Francisco J.; Vega, Nahuel A. (24 November 2025). "First unambiguous evidence of Multituberculata from the Late Cretaceous of South America". Scientific Reports. 15 (1): 41500. doi:10.1038/s41598-025-25255-2. ISSN 2045-2322. Retrieved 21 August 2026 – via Nature Publishing Group.
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