An Unique Mammalian Assemblage From Early Cretaceous Siberia

Mammal remains from the Lower Cretaceous Bol'shoi Terekhtyul' locality in West Siberia, Russia

Authors:

Averianov et al

Abstract:

Four mammalian taxa have been identified based on upper molariform tooth and edentulous dentary fragments from the Bol'shoi Terekhtyul' locality of the Lower Cretaceous Ilek Formation (Krasnoyarsk Territory, Russia): Docodonta indet., Amphidontidae indet., Zhangheotheria indet. sp. A and sp. B. The docodontan from Bol'shoi Terekhtyul is smaller than Sibirotherium rossicum from the Ilek Formation at Shestakovo 1 locality (Kemerovo Province, Russia) and may belong to a distinct taxon. It is one of the younger docodontans in the fossil record. The mammal assemblage from the Bol'shoi Terekhtyul' locality is drastically different from the mammal assemblage of nearby localities of the Ilek Formation along Bol'shoi Kemchug River, which consists of Gobiconodontidae and Amphilestidae. The reason for this faunal discrepancy is unclear for the moment.