Welcome to Akidolestes
Name Definition
Pointed thief
Name Given By
Li & Luo in 2006
Location
Yixian Formation in Liaoning Province, China
Classification
Mammalia, Trechnotheria, Symmetrodonta, Spalacotheriidae
Size
around 10 cm long
Temporal Range
Aptian stage of the Early Cretaceous, ~122 million years ago
Ecological niche
small insectivore
Species/Sub Species
A. cifellii
Diet
small mammals like Akidolestes most likely hunted insects and smaller invertebrates
Introduction
Akidolestes is a genus of early trechnotherian mammals that lived in China during the Early Cretaceous. Unusual for an early mammal, Akidolestes displays features seen in the much later monotremes, better known as the egg-laying mammals like the modern day platypus or echidna. This includes a similar-shaped pubis as well as the presence of the unusual cervical ribs, which are ribs that appear on the neck. However, the analysis of other skeletal features has shown that Akidolestes was indeed a spalacotheriid, a family of early carnivorous/insectivorous mammals that were successful throughout the Cretaceous, having also radiated to North America, Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. Because of this, Akidolestes was most likely another example of convergent evolution, and maybe they got these monotreme-like features from a common ancestor they shared with the monotremes. Akidolestes means “pointed thief” and is named after its relatively long and pointed snout. The species name, cifellii, honors Richard Cifelli and acknowledges the contributions he has made in the department of mammalian palaeontology.